The Going Gets Tough: State Capacity to Support Federal School Turnaround Principles

• In Event: 49.080 - School Turnaround and Reform SIG School Turnaround Policy Implementation: Implications From the State to School Levels

Abstract

Since 2011, waivers to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) offered relief from some aspects of ESEA, but also brought new requirements for state supports for school turnaround. Would states have the capacity to implement these new requirements and would capacity change over time? Using data from a 2013 and 2014 survey of state leaders of school turnaround in all 50 states, this study found that leaders in fewer than half of state reported full implementation of supports. The lowest percentages were for assistance retaining only teachers shown to be effective. From 2013 to 2014, percentages reporting full implementation decreased on 14 of 15 survey items. This decrease reached statistical significance for one item: providing principals with operational flexibility.

Authors

• Caitlin Scott, Learning Policy Institute

• Nora Ostler, Education Northwest