The Intervention Process

Turnaround’s interdisciplinary teams of educators and mental health professionals partner with schools over a three-year period to build the permanent capacity in each school to sustain a positive learning environment and bring about academic achievement for all students.

The Turnaround Intervention comprises the following elements that Turnaround has found to be essential for a successful high poverty school:

• Training and support for all teachers to become proficient in identified high-leverage instructional practices that support rigorous academics (model Element A1).  These include the use of formative assessments directly tied to well-crafted learning targets (following the work of Rick Stiggins and the Assessment Training Institute), and participatory learning structures that apply cooperative learning principles (as developed by Spencer Kagan).
• Training and support for all teachers in acquiring and using proven classroom and behavior management practices and skills that support positive social and emotional development and a positive overall school climate (element B1).  Much of Turnaround’s work in this area is based on the research-validated Classroom Organization and Management Program (COMP) from Vanderbilt University.

• Effective and targeted behavioral and academic interventions for high-need students (Elements A2 and B2), provided through a system of:
  • Interdisciplinary teams in schools trained and coached by Turnaround to guide and track interventions;
  • A school-based social worker trained by Turnaround;
  • Effective linkage with a nearby mental health provider put in place and monitored by Turnaround; and
  • Structures for ongoing collaboration with juvenile justice, child protective services or other social services as required.
• Coaching and other support to achieve foundational conditions necessary for a high functioning school (Element F), including key knowledge and skills for a principal, a school-wide improvement plan, and family and community partnerships.

 

The Intervention model is represented visually as follows:

The cost of the intervention is around $250,000 per school per year, or about $500-$900 per student, depending on the size of the school.

 

School and District Selection

Turnaround seeks to partner with public schools and districts that are highly motivated to transform underperforming schools into excellent learning environments.  This includes schools managed by a Charter or Educational Management Organization and schools targeted for specific reform efforts such as restart or transformation.

The key to the success of each Turnaround partner school is a principal with the will to drive a whole-school transformation process, a deep commitment to removing barriers to learning, and a passion for developing a strong academic program.  A supportive district or management organization is also critical.  The Turnaround intervention demands a lot from the school leadership team and staff, so a high level of commitment to common goals is essential.  Also important is a willingness to establish strong and accountable partnerships with community-based social service providers.