Of 40 schools identified by the state's accountability system as Level 4 (among the lowest performing, least improving schools most urgently in need of turnaround) in 2010 and 2011, 22
exited turnaround status by the fall of 2015.
Let's face it: nobody really knows how to turn around failing schools; a recent Fordham study found that just 1 percent of low performing schools
reach turnaround status five years later.
Brighton High School slipped
into turnaround status in February, and, like many schools in the same position, informed all staff save for custodians and cafeteria workers that they would have no guarantee of employment in the following year.
American Fork's Pioneer High School for the Performing Arts had their warning and
turnaround status reduced by the board after tackling about 40 different issues dealing with their school processes.
North High School adopted restorative practices in 2006 as part of the pilot initiative in Denver Public Schools.Throughout its ten years of implementation, North has moved from a school
on turnaround status to the coveted Green School rating, transforming student attendance, student achievement, and other indicators of success.
Visionaries have an overall view of what the school needs to look and feel like when it is no longer
in turnaround status and well beyond the initial years of stability.
It's time we take a look at how we are spending money in failing schools that are under the priority improvement plan or
turnaround status.
Although recent changes in Massachusetts's assessments make year - to - year comparisons of achievement growth in math and language arts difficult, our data clearly show that after year two, this school in
turnaround status is exceeding district averages in ELA and narrowing the gap with the district in math.