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The word 鈥�accountability鈥� should be celebrated.

Ensuring something that’s promised actually gets delivered builds trust and faith in a given system. 

Yet time after time, when it comes to public schools, many state policymakers shy away from high standards and strong accountability. They prefer an easier, murkier path that feels better for the adults but leaves students worse off in the long run. 

International released in September showed that while U.S. math and science scores remained similar to those from the 2022 test cycle, reading scores among 15-year-olds dropped by 14 points 鈥� roughly seven months of lost learning.

Among industrialized nations, the U.S. registered the widest gap in reading between highest- and lowest-performing students.

These data underpin a growing lack of confidence in the American education system.

“When nearly every school appears above average, parents should ask whether that grade still means what it used to.”

A recent revealed that public satisfaction with the quality of American K-12 schools has plummeted to an all-time low of 32%, the lowest rating in the survey’s 27-year history. Respondents pointed to a lack of teaching basic skills as one of their primary areas of concern.

Righting this ship isn鈥檛 rocket science. States must empower teachers with the support they need to teach the fundamentals and then make sure students are actually learning. 

The policy itself is simple 鈥� hold schools accountable for student learning. Implementing that policy with continued discipline is much harder. No school leader or educator wants to deliver the news that a student is falling behind, but that feedback loop is the only way for young people to get the help they need in time to help them get back on track.

When those difficult conversations don鈥檛 happen, students 鈥� and states 鈥� lose ground.

In Florida, scores on the National Assessment of Education Progress, the nation鈥檚 report card, have continued to over the past decade, a slide that began before the pandemic. Today, Florida鈥檚 reading scores, as measured by NAEP, are at their . And while students are on Florida鈥檚 state assessments, roughly 40% of students are still not meeting grade-level standards. Yet more than three-quarters of Florida schools received an grade on the state school report card this year! 

When nearly every school appears above average, parents should ask whether that grade still means what it used to 鈥� especially as Florida鈥檚 test results have declined.

Experts call that the honesty gap. Official ratings send one message, while student results send another. And parents are lulled into thinking everything is fine when their children actually need help.

It hasn鈥檛 always been this way. 

When I was governor, Florida leaders made it a priority to adopt high academic standards, rigorous, meaningful assessments and an A-F school grading system parents could count on. It was transparent and honest. It was rigorous. And it worked.

Giving schools letter grades was controversial, but the purpose was never to shame educators or the schools themselves. It was to shine a light on how students were doing so communities could rally around struggling schools, policymakers could focus on results, not intentions, and state leaders could ensure students received the resources and support they desperately needed.

Unfortunately, Florida has taken its foot off the gas. The A-F system still exists, but the bar for earning an A or B is too low. Too many schools now receive grades that look impressive on paper while student achievement tells a more troubling story. This also means schools that have real concerns about their student outcomes aren鈥檛 being adequately identified for additional supports that could ultimately improve their overall performance.

As policymakers look toward the next legislative session, they have the opportunity to focus on improving that disconnect. 

Parents should not have to become data analysts to know whether their children are on track. They should be able to compare classroom grades with objective assessments given by the state, district or school and get a clear answer.

That level of transparency can be uncomfortable, but honest information is the first step toward timely help. Florida became a national leader by being willing to be honest, set high expectations and report results in a way families could understand. 

Rebuilding trust in the education system 鈥� at the state level and nationally 鈥� requires policymakers to recommit to strong accountability systems designed to instill confidence that students are learning the skills they need to succeed in life.

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