School Turnarounds: Leader Actions and Results

This 2008 Center on Innovation and Improvement study identifies 14 “leader actions” associated with successful turnarounds and examines how they have played out in turnaround schools.

These actions include:

• Collecting and analyzing data
• Making an action plan based on data
• Concentrating on big, fast payoffs
• Making necessary staff replacements
• Communicating a positive vision
• Measuring and reporting progress frequently
• Requiring all decision-makers to share data and problem-solve.

This report provides a description of each of these leader actions, illustrative vignettes, and an annotated bibliography of the included case studies.