Improving Turnaround Measures for Lowest Performing Schools

This brief reviews promising policy models for school turnaround in Massachusetts, Louisiana, Tennessee and the district of Philadelphia, Pa. It also compares them to the Commissioner’s Network legislation and program here in Connecticut, and concludes with specific policy recommendations to improve the Network. To compile this brief, we reviewed legislation, reports on state turnaround efforts and research on improving student achievement at low performing schools and organizations. We also interviewed nine school principals identified as effective turnaround leaders.