Research Library
The Turnaround Challenge
Subtitle: Why America’s Best Opportunity to Dramatically Improve Student Achievement Lies in Our Worst-Performing Schools
Author: Calkins, Andrew and Guenther, William
Publisher: Mass Insight Education and Research Institute
Publication Date: 2007
Publisher City: Boston
Publisher State: MA
Summary or Abstract: This report, funded by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, distinguishes between “school turnaround” and “school improvement.” School turnaround requires dramatic changes that produce significant achievement gains in short periods followed by a longer period of sustained improvement. The report argues that specialized experience, training, and support is necessary for turnaround to occur in the most chronically under-performing schools. Specific elements to turning around the nation’s lowest performing schools are identified and discussed. The report includes12 questions for states to use to self-audit their progress in this endeavor.