Accountability in education refers to the practice of holding schools responsible for the quality of their products - students' knowledge, skills, behavior and attitudes. With the passage of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, states and school districts are being held accountable as never before to increase student achievement and close the achievement gaps among students of different racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds.

The law says that schools that fail to bridge the gap may face losing some of their federal funding. Unfortunately, student achievement is affected by more than what goes on in the classroom. Family circumstances can decisively shape student achievement. As a result, simplistic accountability systems that dole out rewards or sanctions based on test scores run the risk of punishing schools and teachers for problems beyond their control.

The task of raising student achievement is formidable and must be shared with parents, lawmakers and students themselves. It is unrealistic to think that school districts can do it alone.

Parents must step up to the plate and take greater responsibility for their children's education as well as their behavior in school. It may be a cliché, but parents are truly their children's first and most important teachers.

Time spent by classroom teachers on individual discipline problems is time taken away from valuable instruction for the remainder of the class. Parents must reinforce school rules at home. Children at every grade level should know for sure when they come to school that there will be consequences at home as well as at school for violating school and classroom rules. Children who consistently disrupt the educational process must be removed from the classroom, and alternative settings must be found for those children proven to be unable to function in a classroom environment.

Improving the quality of education and its outcomes requires additional time for instruction and more educational materials and, yes, smaller class size. These things don't come cheap. Who will pay for them? Adding to the property tax burden on homeowners to pay for these mandates is simply unacceptable. That's why we must hold the governor and lawmakers in Albany accountable for giving Farmingdale taxpayers our fair share of state education money.

It is unreasonable for lawmakers to mandate improved student achievement and not provide the increased resources needed to reach that goal. "Just do it" may work as a motto for an athletic shoe, but it simply doesn't work for improving student achievement.

Students themselves must also be held accountable for their academic success. They must turn off the television, the video games, and the computer and open up a book. In some cases it's as simple as that. Reading is fundamental to all academic achievement, and if children aren't reading at home, their skills will certainly lag behind in all subject areas.

When we work together we can accomplish much. Let us collectively make it one of our 2004 New Year resolutions to work with our legislators and school board to assure that Farmingdale gets its fair share of state funds. That way we can continue to provide the best possible education for our children. Happy New Year to all.