What I have tried to do in this chapter is identify some of the important challenges that lie ahead as performance-based accountability polices are put into effect. The challenges are both technical and political and, indeed, in practice the two are related, as I discuss. But before trying to speculate about what accountability policies portend for education, it may be useful to review briefly the current state of such policies.

We examine issues related to the district role in education reform by drawing on data from two companion national surveys as well as national archival files.

The author examines explanations for the growth of administrative structures in school districts and discusses some of the consequences of this growth.