Stakeholder Participation in Educational Performance Monitoring Systems

Performance monitoring systems have typically been “top-down” evaluation approaches. In Virginia, however, a stakeholder approach was used to develop an educational-performance monitoring system. Four stakeholder groups (teachers, school superintendents, school board members, and education group representatives) were identified, and representatives of the groups were involved in developing the system. Stakeholder group representatives viewed their impact on the development of the system positively. Teachers, who might be expected to resist a performance monitoring system, were the most positive about their efficacy in the process and the most committed to the system. The responses of the stakeholders generally indicate that some of the preconditions for utilization of the results were met through the approach of involving stakeholders. However, it is not clear whether the opinions of the representatives will spill over to the rest of the education community.