Last year’s NAEP data was released this morning, and overall, it’s sobering. In education, we must improve student outcomes in order to create lifelong opportunities for every child to thrive. Achieving this means taking inspiration from proven strategies, and I’m reminded of the powerful lessons we can all learn from great charter schools and authorizers.

As CEO and President of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, I’ve seen firsthand how great authorizers leverage accountability and innovation to drive student outcomes:

• They define rigorous, clear, measurable expectations for success.

• They create the space for schools to innovate and meet the unique needs of their students.

• They step in when schools fall short to ensure every child has access to a high-quality education.

This dual focus on accountability and innovation is a gamechanger—and something that every educational leader can learn from. I explored this exact sentiment in an op-ed I published back in July, and it’s worth revisiting as we launch into the second half of the school year. When accountability and innovation go hand-in-hand, every student wins. Read more.