Accountability plan for higher education would be a mistake, report says.(Washington Update)

The Bush administration's plan for imposing accountability measures--similar to those in the No Child Left Behind Act--on higher education is wrongheaded, according to a new report by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Lawrence N. Gold, the AFT's higher education director, said the report is not a response to any particular piece of legislation, but to the Bush administration having mentioned an interest in holding colleges and universities accountable for their graduation rates.

"I thought it was particularly pernicious," Gold said.

While the Bush administration hasn't formally released an accountability proposal, Gold said he has heard 'administration officials talk about higher education reforms in terms of No …