The Achilles' heel of school choice policies: The obstacles to reporting school accountability results to parents

This study examines the conflict facing state education officials in reporting the adequate yearly progress results required by No Child Left Behind and how those challenges obfuscated the transmission of school choice information to parents. To comply with school accountability mandates, state education officials transformed test scores into school performance labels using complicated accountability systems. Then, to meet school choice requirements, state education officials were required to explain the results in a way that parents can understand. The conflict reveals a critical shortcoming of future education policies that link school accountability and choice.