How do proficiency-based accountability systems affect inequality in academic achievement? This paper reconciles mixed findings in the literature by demonstrating that three factors jointly determine accountability's impact. First, by analyzing student-level data from a large urban school district, we find that when educators face accountability pressure, they focus attention on students closes...

STANDARDS and accountability policies have become increasingly popular strategies among school reformers. In 1984, South Carolina became the first state to introduce a school performance incentive program where schools are ranked on the basis of student test scores and top schools receive financial rewards (Clotfelter & Ladd,1996). Since then many states and districts have implemented policies,...

CONTEXT The relationship between the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Achievement Test (COMAT) series of subject examinations and the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA Level 2-Cognitive Evaluation (COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE) has not been thoroughly examined. OBJECTIVE To investigate the factors associated with performance on COMAT subject examinations and how COMAT scor...

We investigate whether math tests taken by German primary and secondary students during a high stakes grade produce higher scores than done low grades. define as the final of or school, because good performance in that can affect future opportunities. Our difference-in-differences estimates show increase on average 0.17 to 0.22 standard deviations grades, sizeable effect. Reading scores, howeve...