Reeves, Douglas B.

The author explains why he believes in academic standards as the only fair method for assessing student performance, offers guidelines for establishing standards systems, and discusses the role of the school superintendent, board of education, and state and national governments in the standards movement.

Offers teachers a method of grading that is accurate, fair, specific, and timely, identifying the four characteristics of effective feedback, looking at the debate over grading, and including time-saving strategies, as well as tips on leading change in grading practices and systems.

Offers school leaders practical advice on how they can implement positive changes in their schools and communities through teacher leadership, focusing on the latest research findings, practical applications, and ways to improve student achievement and educational equity.

Argues that rather than protest the call for accountability in schools, teachers and administrators should embrace it as an opportunity for empowerment, developing student-centered accountability systems of their own in order to improve teaching methods and influence policy makers; and explains how to do so.

Offers a comprehensive overview of educational accountability, explaining what it is, how it impacts educators and students, and what the most practical implementation strategies are.

Provides guidance for implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), covering how to ramp up for the standards-based instructional practices at all levels of an organization.