This initial step in establishing a program of educational accountability provides descriptive information to public officials and the general public about Maryland public schools. The Report presents the overall accountability effort of goal formulation and educational assessment on the State, local school system, and individual school levels. In this Summary, the reader will find descriptive information about: the nature of the educational accountability effort thus far; the instructional goals and objectives in reading, writing, and mathematics that have been agreed upon at the State level; demographic data for the State and local school systems; and assessment data on ability and achievement summarized at the State and local school system levels. Iowa Tests of Basic Skills were used to assess achievement, and Cognitive Ability Tests were used to assess ability. Results showed Maryland's average performance in most of the achievement skill areas was slightly below the national average; however, Maryland's average performance in the ability area showed a progressive increase through the grades. (Author)