69ý

School & District Management Report Roundup

IES Offers ‘Practice Guide’ on School Turnarounds

By Debra Viadero — May 13, 2008 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

“Turning Around Chronically Low-Performing 69ý”

69ý that struggle with low student performance year after year should undertake dramatic leadership changes, focus consistently on instruction, make visible changes early, and build a committed staff, according to a new federal report.

Changing leadership is important, the says, because a new leader can immediately signal change. But even existing leaders can enact dramatic and effective changes, the guide says, by becoming highly visible and taking a leading role in guiding the instruction that goes on in classrooms.

69ý can keep the focus on instruction, the report adds, by using school-level data to find out where students’ learning gaps lie and having teachers use formative assessments to analyze their own practices.

The report is the fourth in a series of practice guides produced by the Institute of Education Sciences, the U.S. Department of Education’s main research arm.

In the absence of definitive studies on how to turn around failing schools, the guide is meant to highlight some key practical strategies that have a reasonable chance of succeeding, according to the institute.

The practices were chosen by a panel of outside experts who based their recommendations on a review of case studies, surveys, and other research in the field.

The 43-page guide on turnaround strategies also outlines ways schools can enact the recommendations and discusses challenges they may face as they undertake those changes.

Related Tags:

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Special Education Webinar
Don’t Count Them Out: Dyscalculia Support from PreK-Career
Join Dr. Elliott and Dr. Wall as they empower educators to support students with dyscalculia to envision successful careers and leadership roles.
Content provided by 
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Well-Being Webinar
Improve School Culture and Engage 69ý: Archery’s Critical Role in Education
Changing lives one arrow at a time. Find out why administrators and principals are raving about archery in their schools.
Content provided by 
School Climate & Safety Webinar Engaging Every Student: How to Address Absenteeism and Build Belonging
Gain valuable insights and practical solutions to address absenteeism and build a more welcoming and supportive school environment.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

School & District Management Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About The Superintendent Persona?
The superintendent plays a crucial role in purchasing decisions. Test your knowledge of this key buyer persona and see how your results stack up with your peers.
School & District Management Opinion School Modernization Funds Are in Jeopardy. Here's What To Do
Upgrades to ground-source heat pumps keep students learning in hot weather and rack up energy savings, write two former school leaders.
Brenda Cassellius & Jonathan Klein
5 min read
Thermometer under a hot sun. Hot summer day. High Summer temperatures.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Thinking About Closing a School? What to Consider Besides Enrollment
It's not a given that closing a building will result in substantial savings.
6 min read
69ý in a combined second- and third-grade class talk in pairs.
69ý in a combined 2nd and 3rd grade class talk in pairs.
Allison Shelley for All4Ed
School & District Management How These 69ý Get Boys Excited About Learning
These four schools are reimagining their schedules and operations to better serve boys.
2 min read
69ý play in the creativity corner during recess at Boys’ Latin School of Maryland on Oct. 24, 2024 in Baltimore, Md.
69ý play in the creativity corner during recess at Boys’ Latin School of Maryland in Baltimore on Oct. 24, 2024. When schools offer students more independence and choice, boys in particular tend to thrive, experts say.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week