In education, accountability is defined as a systematic method to assure those inside and outside the education system that schools and students are moving toward desired goals.  Accountability can promote educational quality in several ways. An effective accountability system not only reports the status of education to the public, but also serves as a vehicle for school improvement by setting clear expectations. It significantly influences what administrators do, what teachers teach, and what students become.  What gets measured gets done.

Accountability–A Shared Responsibility is NEA's description of the uses and misuses of accountability.