The emphasis on the equality of educational opportunities in the definition of educational policies has been replaced by a new emphasis on the quality of education in recent years. However, this substitution assumes that the quality of education is merely the quality of the educational outcome. In this sense, several factors have contributed to reveal a sense of dissatisfaction in the public audience in relation to present educational outcomes and standards. All this implies the rise of national systems of educational accountability which have evolved into extremely useful elements for the design and reform of educational policies in Europe.The emphasis on the equality of educational opportunities in the definition of educational policies has been replaced by a new emphasis on the quality of education in recent years. However, this substitution assumes that the quality of education is merely the quality of the educational outcome. In this sense, several factors have contributed to reveal a sense of dissatisfaction in the public audience in relation to present educational outcomes and standards. All this implies the rise of national systems of educational accountability which have evolved into extremely useful elements for the design and reform of educational policies in Europe.