The Harvard Family Research Project separated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education to become the Global Family Research Project as of January 1, 2017. It is no longer affiliated with Harvard University.
Volume ll, Number 1, 1996
Issue Topic: Results-Based Accountability
From the Director's Desk
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| Heather Weiss |
Interest in planning and implementing results-based accountability systems for children and families is growing exponentially, creating opportunities and challenges for policymakers, practitioners, and program managers. Our Results-Based Accountability Project is supporting and building upon recent state efforts to develop these new accountability systems for child and family services.
While most states are in the early stages of planning and implementing results-based accountability systems, these new systems appear to be here to stay. Hence, states are finding a need for avenues to share resources, to learn about other states' experiences with these new systems, and to obtain information about pioneering states' efforts.
To learn about state efforts, we conducted brief interviews with representatives in most states and obtained much valuable information. We learned that Minnesota and Oregon were among the first in the nation to develop results-based accountability systems and, as such, have addressed many of the challenges that other states are currently facing.
In this issue, we share our preliminary analysis of issues arising in the early implementation of these new systems and we include articles by those developing and implementing results-based accountability systems. We have found that the conceptualization of results-based accountability systems makes it difficult to develop uniform definitions for terminology. The authors of the articles in this issue use similar terms to refer to different concepts, and different terms to refer to similar concepts. For example, the terms outcome, benchmark, and milestone all refer to desired long-range measurable results. We do not impose a set of definitions, but recognize that uniformity in definitions and terms will emerge as these systems continue to develop.
The articles in this issue focus on key opportunities and challenges of results-based accountability systems. We highlight the promising approaches used by Oregon and Minnesota in overcoming challenges in developing and implementing these new systems. We also include articles on Iowa's results-based budgeting and on developing systems of accountability in specific areas of child and family services. In addition, we summarize the Real-Time Change and Performance Model which provides a philosophy, process, and a set of tools for improving results for communities and families. Harking back to the theme of an earlier issue (Vol. I, No. 2, Spring 1995), we present information about a recent meeting on evaluating school-linked services. This theme will be taken up again in our first issue of 1997.
As part of our larger effort to disseminate information about results-based accountability initiatives in states and localities, we will continue to publish articles in subsequent issues of our newsletter, and to issue reports on topics related to these new accountability systems. For example, we have produced a resource guide that includes profiles of selected states' results-based accountability efforts, key contacts, and important state documents. This report is part of our continued effort to encourage a dialogue among the policymakers and practitioners developing these new systems.
Heather B. Weiss, Ed.D.
Founder & Director
Harvard Family Research Project