In the 1970s Finnish educational leaders decided that they had to change their system in order to stay current with the 21st century. In 2001 the Finnish students scored at the top in reading, mathematics, and science. How did the Finns change their system?
There are a combination of factors. One, the Finns listened to researchers from the US, UK, and Canada, researchers such as Michael Fullan, Andy Hargreaves, Doug Reeves. Secondly, the Finns honored their culture in that they kept the motto of less is more, they refused to get trapped by the marketplace/accountability/choice cul-de-sac that other industrialized nations bought into. Third, the Finns emphasized learning as opposed to seat time.
We could do this. But we would have to change the funding stream so that schools are paid when students make progress, not when they advance in chronological age. If we paid schools when students make a year's worth of growth in reading, mathematics, and science, some students would graduate early and some would stay until they mastered the content. Either way, it's a win/win situation because schools get rewarded for success and students get to move along at a pace that is in line with their development of skills and knowledge.
If we only paid schools when students learn what is necessary, that would be true accountability. It would put emphasis on learning which is where it should be.
Here is another article about the Finnish systems.
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