Sticky Management Issues

Getting Stalled School Turnaround Initiatives Back on Track

School Districts face the enormously complex task of turning around schools that are underperforming. With so much on the line with school turnaround (student futures, funding, credibility, credentialing, livelihood...), success is imperative. Yet so many things could interfere that it may seem like hit or miss to establish what needs to change when the initiative gets off-track.

When implementation stalls, the first step is to determine the root cause. In our experience, measurable progress occurs when five elements are in place. The absence of any of these elements will cause stagnation at best. The essential elements for successful implementation are:



Shared Vision - All stakeholders have a clear, shared vision of what the school is trying to accomplish. They have collectively envisioned how classrooms, administration, instruction, relationships, programs, methodologies, systems and structures will interact to accomplish achievement targets. Each person knows what he or she will do differently and what will remain unchanged when the vision is realized. There is broad support for the vision along with underlying values and beliefs.

Plan - A comprehensive plan is in place that establishes who needs to do what by when to accomplish the vision. Milestones and targets provide indicators of how well the plan is progressing. The plan includes fidelity and impact measures to reinforce the marriage of effort to outcomes at every juncture. Without the intentional integration of short-term tactical measures with short and longer-term impact measures, high stakes initiatives such as BCPS' PLA turnaround efforts can fall prey to "impact failure by checklist". A robust, internal monitoring system keeps the plan on track. The plan is seen as doable by key stakeholders.

Skills - There is an understanding of the competencies that are required to accomplish achievement targets and a plan for measuring and building capacity and skill sets across all stakeholder groups. Everyone knows what skills they will need to strengthen and how this development will occur. Competencies may include instructional methodologies, classroom management, content knowledge, technology, communication, leadership, data management and interpretation, group decision-making, conflict resolution, coaching, organizational skills, research, time management, parenting and others.

Resources - The tools needed to do the new work are available or planned for. Systems have been established for assessing and acquiring resources in a timely way. In addition to material and support resources, the resources of time, energy, and mental and physical health are accounted for.

Communication & Teamwork - communication systems are in place to assure timely, accurate flow of information. People receive and share the information needed to make productive instructional, administrative, student, team, departmental, school-wide and district level decisions. There is a culture of information sharing and teamwork as required to accomplish the vision.

Absence of any of these elements results in confusion, frustration, anxiety, false starts or stagnation, which lowers morale, motivation, productivity and results.

WrightWay Consulting conducts customized assessments to identify the root cause of stalled implementation of school turnaround efforts. Want more information? contact us