Turnaround at Whose Expense? Student Pushouts at Urban Turnaround High Schools

• In Event: 35.073 - Principal, Teacher, and Student Perspectives on School Turnaround Implementation

Abstract

Despite the fact that the turnaround policy does not theoretically involve removing students from schools, the students in this study argued that when turnaround was implemented, students were pushed out of their schools. The students consistently agreed that having the ‘bad’ students removed from their schools had a positive influence in improving school culture. This paper explores students’ views of the practice of student pushouts and discusses implications for schools and districts. While often overlooked, students’ perspectives can be incredibly revealing when used to examine school reform policies.

Author

• Jennifer D. Olson, University of Illinois at Chicago