This brief is part of a four-part series examining the past, present, and future of modern school accountability systems. With the dual forces of the COVID-19 pandemic and the national call to action on racial inequity, the question of how we should measure and hold schools accountable for the impact they have on students is more urgent than ever. This brief assesses the successes and challenges of standards-based accountability, the relative strength of its component parts, and the evolution of public and political support to sustain these policies.