Executive Summary

In The Accountability Myth, Dr. Michael Q. McShane, Director of National Research at EdChoice, challenges the common belief that public schools are accountable while private schools are not. McShane argues that traditional public schools often lack meaningful accountability in three key areas: how money is spent, how schools are governed, and how student outcomes are measured. In contrast, he suggests that Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) and other school choice programs create stronger accountability by giving parents the power to make decisions about their children’s education.

The Three Main Arguments

1. Financial accountability

McShane argues that it can be difficult for taxpayers to understand how public schools spend their funding. Financial reports vary from district to district, school-level spending isn’t always easy to find, and examples of financial mismanagement don’t always result in meaningful consequences. He believes it’s difficult to hold schools accountable when spending isn’t easy to track or compare.

2. Democratic accountability

McShane also questions how accountable school boards are to the communities they serve. He points to low voter turnout, off-cycle elections, and the influence of organized interest groups as reasons why school boards may not always reflect the priorities of most families.

3. Educational accountability

While states have testing and school accountability systems, McShane argues these systems often fall short. According to the article, accountability measures can be difficult to understand, frequently change, and rarely lead to significant action when schools consistently struggle academically.

Why this matters for school choice

McShane argues that opponents of ESAs and voucher programs often criticize them for lacking accountability while assuming traditional public schools are already accountable. He challenges that assumption and contends that, when both systems are evaluated using the same standards, school choice programs can provide stronger accountability.

The proposed alternative: Parent accountability

Rather than relying primarily on government oversight, McShane argues that parents provide the strongest form of accountability. When families have the freedom to choose a school, monitor their child’s progress, and leave if a school isn’t meeting their needs, schools have a greater incentive to serve students well.

The report also highlights Arizona’s ESA program as an example of financial transparency, noting that many ESA purchases are tracked at the transaction level, allowing the public to see how education dollars are spent.

Overall takeaway

McShane’s central message is that accountability should be measured by results, transparency, and families’ ability to make informed choices, not simply by whether a school is public or private. He concludes that empowering parents through school choice creates a more direct and meaningful form of accountability than relying solely on government systems.