Turning Around Chronically Low-Performing Schools This Practice Guide was developed by an Expert Panel convened by the Institute of Education Sciences. It is designed to help chronically low-performing schools "turn around" achievement patterns. It offers a set of four research-based recommendations that together constitute a coherent approach to a challenging problem. A summary of the research evidence and a level of evidence rating are provided for each recommendation. This Practice Guide is the foundation for all the Doing What Works content on turning around chronically low-performing schools.
Multimedia Overview Turning Around Chronically Low-Performing Schools
Use this multimedia overview to learn how the practices for school turnaround fit together into a research-based and practical solution for quickly turning around chronically low-performing schools. (6:37 min)Explore these recommended practices:
- <<Improved Leadership
Signal the need for dramatic change with improved leadership. - <<Focus on Instruction
Maintain a consistent focus on improving instruction. - <<Quick Wins
Make visible improvements early in the school turnaround process. - <<Committed Staff
Build a staff committed to the turnaround process.
Visual Diagram Turning Around Chronically Low-Performing Schools
School turnaround efforts aim to improve student outcomes in chronically low-performing schools by changing how schools and classrooms operate. This diagram shows an approach that integrates four practices to support quick and dramatic improvement in student achievement.Expert Interview
Recommendations of the Turnaround Practice Guide
Rebecca Herman, Ph.D.American Institutes for Research
This interview features Dr. Rebecca Herman, the chair of the expert panel that produced the Practice Guide. Dr. Herman provides an overview of the school turnaround topic and discusses the four recommendations that are described in the Practice Guide. (8:20 min)
Expert Interview
People, Time, Money, and Programming
Andrew Calkins, Senior Vice PresidentMass Insight Education & Research Institute
Dr. Andrew Calkins discusses strategies to facilitate school turnaround. Dr. Calkins emphasizes the need to establish a readiness to learn in turnaround schools through effectively managing the schools' use of people, time, money, and programming resources. (6:25 min)