Reform on the Reservation: The Struggle to Implement School Improvement Efforts

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

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate a) implementation of turnaround policy in a school district on a Native American reservation, and b) how and to what extent the policy promoted school reform and improvement for a highly disenfranchised community. Using School Improvement Grant (SIG) funding, the Yellow Pine district targeted a reform effort to implement a digitized curriculum in the hope of increasing academic success. Thus, the study not only to examined the leadership during the implementation of the digitized curriculum effort, but also how managing complex change occurred in response to implementation challenges. Findings include the need for engaging instruction, district support, and community involvement if turnaround efforts are to be successful.

Authors

• Ian Mette, University of Maine

• Jason William Stanoch, Red Lake Public School District #38