After conducting a thorough policy analysis, Achieve and Jobs for the Future suggested in this report to North Carolina ways it can create a more coherent, intentional, and aligned assessment and accountability system to improve both achievement and graduation rates for struggling and out-of-school students. The report includes a preliminary framework for next generation high school accountability indicators that recognize and reward schools that help all students graduate on time with a college and career-ready diploma.

The recommendations were presented to an independent Blue Ribbon Commission on Testing and Accountability in North Carolina. This report was part of Moving Forward: High Standards and High Graduation Rates, a joint project of Achieve, Inc., and Jobs for the Future and funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York. (July 2007)