In contrast, the approach
under waivers, dubbed turnaround, was much more focused — applying only to the 5 percent of schools identified as «priority» schools and based on key principles outlined by the Department (see sidebar Turnaround Principles).62 Fewer schools were part of the effort, but in turn, the effort was much more intensive and required significant changes in school
operations, culture, leadership, and practice.63 The hope was that a more disruptive and ambitious strategy will yield dramatic results: after three years, these schools would no longer be in the bottom 5 percent, and another group of schools could be identified to undergo turnaround.