Every Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) state has taken actions aimed at holding schools accountable for improved student achievement. Several SREB states are recognized nationally as leaders in implementing school-accountability systems that are getting results. SREB states are making progress in improving student achievement on indicators such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress and college admissions tests. Through accountability programs, some states are beginning to see evidence of closing the gap between the achievement of black and white students. It is now clear that state efforts to hold schools accountable for results and to provide schools with the necessary support are beginning to pay significant dividends. This report outlines for state leaders the basic considerations that are important in making ratings and assistance work as part of a state's comprehensive accountability system. Based on the experience of SREB states, it provides answers to these questions: What have SREB states done to improve student achievement at schools through accountability? What approaches are states using in the development of school-ratings systems? What are the essential characteristics of effective school ratings? What are states doing to assist low-performing schools? What assistance strategies lead to improvement at low-performing schools? and What can states do to ensure effective accountability, ratings systems, and improvements in low-performing schools? (DFR)