school turnarounds : cross-sector research & evidence from chicago

School School TurnaroundsTurnarounds: :

Cross-Sector Cross-Sector Research Research

& Evidence from & Evidence from ChicagoChicagoChairs:

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

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

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

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

SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSFUL TURNAROUNDS: TURNAROUNDS: CROSS-SECTOR EVIDENCECROSS-SECTOR EVIDENCE

WHAT IS A TURNAROUND?WHAT IS A TURNAROUND?

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

Failing Schools Can Be Turned Around

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

School Leaders Matter

OVERVIEOVERVIEWW

Environmental Context is Critical

LEADER LEADER ACTIONSACTIONS

Specific Leader Actions Lead To

Dramatic Change

Concentrate on

EARLY WINSEARLY WINS

Deviate from Norms to Get the Job Done

LEADER ACTIONSLEADER ACTIONS

LEADER LEADER ACTIONSACTIONS

Analyze and Problem-Solve

LEADER ACTIONSLEADER ACTIONS

Drive for Results

LEADER LEADER ACTIONSACTIONS

Influence Inside and Outside

LEADER ACTIONSLEADER ACTIONS

Measure and Report

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXTENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT

Environmental Context is Critical

ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXTCONTEXT

Recruiting & Selecting Leaders

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXTENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT

Timing Matters

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXTENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT

Freedom to Act(aka “the big Yes”)

ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXTCONTEXT

Develop Supportive & Aligned Systems

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXTENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT

Engage the Community

Failing Schools Can Be Turned Failing Schools Can Be Turned AroundAround

CHICAGO’S SCHOOL TURNAROUND CHICAGO’S SCHOOL TURNAROUND INITIATIVE 2006-08INITIATIVE 2006-08

Turn around 6 of the city’s 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)

CHICAGO’S SCHOOL TURNAROUND CHICAGO’S SCHOOL TURNAROUND INITIATIVE 2006-08INITIATIVE 2006-08

PARALLEL STRATEGIESPARALLEL STRATEGIES

Differences with regard to oversight, training and staffing:

CEdO ONS

Oversight

Traditional district structure; support from additional consultant

Schools managed by AUSL

TrainingUniv. 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

SHERMAN & EARLE: SHERMAN & EARLE: BACKGROUND BACKGROUND

EVIDENCE FROM EVIDENCE FROM CHICAGOCHICAGO

RESOURCESRESOURCES

• School Restructuring Handbook (2007). Center on Innovation & Improvement. www.centerii.org/restructuring/

• School Turnarounds: A Review of the Cross-Sector Evidence on Dramatic Organizational Improvement (2007). www.centerii.org/restructuring/resources/turnarounds.html

• School Turnarounds: Actions And Results. (2008) www.centerii.org/restructuring/resources/turnarounds.html

• School Restructuring Under No Child Left Behind: What Works When? A Guide for Educational Leaders (2006). www.centerforcsri.org/files/RestructuringGuide.pdf

Contact InformationContact Information

• Sam Redding, sredding@centerii.org• Marilyn Murphy, mmurphy@centerii.org• Julie Kowal, julie_kowal@publicimpact.com• Lauren Rhim,

lauren_rhim@publicimpact.com• Adrian Willis, agwillis@cps.k12.il.us• Lionel Allen, leallen@cps.edu

Visit the CII website at www.centerii.org