Charter Schools' Early Indicators of Distress Prior to Failure: The Role and Perspective of Authorizers

• In Event: Charter School Leadership and Governance

Abstract

This paper considers how an early warning system methodology might apply to charter school authorizers’ work of identifying schools in distress prior to full school failure, as school failure disproportionately affects marginalized students. This research combined an early warning system for identifying at-risk scenarios before a crisis, and the systemic nature of distress characterized by organizational decline, presenting a framework to identify charter schools in distress earlier enough for leaders to address prior to the school entering the death spiral of school failure. The research found that authorizers focus on indicators of distress mostly indirectly related to student outcomes. Further, authorizers are thinking critically about balancing autonomy and accountability in their roles in relation to schools in distress.

Authors

• Laura M Groth, Lumen Impact Group

• Aimee Evan, WestEd

• Hannah Sullivan, Manhattan Strategy Group