School Turnarounds: Cross-Sector Research

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School Turnarounds Cross-Sector Research
Evidence from Chicago

• Chairs
• Julie Kowal, Public Impact
• Lauren Morando Rhim, Public Impact Center on
  Innovation Improvement

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OVERVIEW

• Successful Turnarounds The Cross-Sector Evidence
• Leader actions
• Environmental support
• Background on the turnaround initiative in
  Chicago, 2006-2008
• Perspectives from Chicago
• Early Wins
• Replacing Staff
• District Support

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SUCCESSFUL TURNAROUNDS CROSS-SECTOR EVIDENCE

• SOURCES
• Literature related to turning around
  low-performing organizations
• University of Virginia School Turnaround
  Specialist Program
• --Interviews with national experts and turnaround
  specialists
• Field Research in Chicago and Philadelphia

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WHAT IS A TURNAROUND?
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OVERVIEW

• Failing Schools Can Be Turned Around

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OVERVIEW

• School Leaders
• Matter

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OVERVIEW

• Environmental Context is Critical

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LEADER ACTIONS

• Specific Leader Actions Lead To Dramatic Change

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EARLY WINS
Concentrate on
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LEADER ACTIONS
Deviate from Norms to Get the Job Done
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LEADER ACTIONS

• Analyze and
• Problem-Solve

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LEADER ACTIONS

• Drive for Results

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LEADER ACTIONS

• Influence Inside
• and Outside

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LEADER ACTIONS

• Measure and Report

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ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT

• Environmental Context is Critical

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ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT

• Recruiting Selecting Leaders

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ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT

• Timing Matters

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ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT

• Freedom to Act
• (aka the big Yes)

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ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT

• Develop Supportive Aligned Systems

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ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT

• Engage the Community

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Failing Schools Can Be Turned Around
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CHICAGOS SCHOOL TURNAROUND INITIATIVE 2006-08

• Turn around 6 of the citys lowest-performing
  schools
• 5 schools began in 2006-07
• 1 school began in 2007-08
• Using parallel strategies
• 4 overseen by the Chief Education Office (CEdO)
• 2 overseen by the Office of New Schools (ONS) and
  operated in partnership with the Academy for
  Urban School Leadership (AUSL)

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CHICAGOS SCHOOL TURNAROUND INITIATIVE 2006-08
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PARALLEL STRATEGIES

• Differences with regard to oversight, training
  and staffing

CEdO ONS
Oversight Traditional district structure support from additional consultant Schools managed by AUSL
Training Univ. of VA School Turnaround Specialist Program None specific to turnaround
Staffing Principals may fill vacancies but followed contract and traditional regulations for terminations Received authority to require the entire teaching staff to reapply for their jobs
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SHERMAN EARLE BACKGROUND
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EVIDENCE FROM CHICAGO
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RESOURCES

• School Restructuring Handbook (2007). Center on
  Innovation Improvement. www.centerii.org/restruc
  turing/
• School Turnarounds A Review of the Cross-Sector
  Evidence on Dramatic Organizational Improvement
  (2007). www.centerii.org/restructuring/resources/t
  urnarounds.html
• School Turnarounds Actions And Results. (2008)
  www.centerii.org/restructuring/resources/turnaroun
  ds.html
• School Restructuring Under No Child Left Behind
  What Works When? A Guide for Educational Leaders
  (2006). www.centerforcsri.org/files/RestructuringG
  uide.pdf

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Contact Information

• Sam Redding, sredding_at_centerii.org
• Marilyn Murphy, mmurphy_at_centerii.org
• Julie Kowal, julie_kowal_at_publicimpact.com
• Lauren Rhim, lauren_rhim_at_publicimpact.com
• Adrian Willis, agwillis_at_cps.k12.il.us
• Lionel Allen, leallen_at_cps.edu
• Visit the CII website at www.centerii.org