Thompson: Inside School Turnarounds

If reformers will hang in long enough, says Laura Pappano, their turnaround efforts might do more than just produce a bump in test scores, but her new book Inside School Turnarounds does not offer much hope for dramatic transformations across the board. Pappano documents a lot of hard work by dedicated reformers but this "so-called once-in-a-lifetime" infusion of cash into school reform does not look to me like a prudent investment. The top experts cited by Pappano sound the most pessimistic.  Andrew Calkins, an author of "The Turnaround Challenge," says he had wanted an influx of federal money four or five years down the road, after a proper foundation had been laid.  Scott Given, a turnaround directer, thinks "unfortunately, a lot of efforts will fall flat, and within five years the idea of school turnaround will have fizzled." - JT (@drjohnthompson) 

Comments

[Tom]

Starting an administration with a pile of cash to disburse as quickly as possible is not helpful.