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1 Oct 2017
Report

Lessons Learned in Massachusetts High School Turnaround: A Resource for High School Leaders

Alexandra Kistner, Karen Melchior, Alexandra Marken, and Laura Stein

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) has an ongoing commitment to improve support provided to all schools, with an emphasis on the lowest performing schools. Prior work by the ESE revealed that successful turnaround schools in Massachusetts generally implement four key practices focused on leadership, collaboration, and professional responsibility; intentional practices for improving instruction for all students; student-specific supports and interventions; and school climate and culture. This report summarizes findings from AIR’s qualitative analyses of turnaround practices that appear challenging for low-performing high schools, as well as promising practices used by improving and higher performing high schools in the state.

The report analyzes a mixed-methods evaluation of how low-performing (Level 3 and 4) high schools use School Redesign Grants (SRGs) and other supports to catalyze improvement. Previous studies have shown that SRGs have a smaller impact on high school student achievement than on elementary and middle school achievement. ESE created a cross-agency team to examine what methods would be successful in turnaround for high schools.

The study relied heavily on interview and focus group data collected as part of ESE’s school monitoring processes. These data included school-level ratings for turnaround practice implementation, which enabled the study team to focus analyses on turnaround high schools with high and low implementation ratings. This report aims to contribute to the ability of high schools to focus on strategies most likely to impact student outcomes, as evidenced by other schools facing similar challenges. ESE also will continue to refine its approach to supporting the lowest performing high schools in the state, thus laying the groundwork for all schools to succeed.

PDF icon Lessons Learned in Massachusetts High School Turnaround: A Resource for High School Leaders (PDF)
PDF icon Key Takeaways in High School Turnaround (PDF)

Related Work

21 Sep 2016
Report

Evaluation of Level 4 School Turnaround Efforts in Massachusetts - Part 2: Impact of School Redesign Grants

In April 2010, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) adopted regulations to formalize the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s approach to engaging with all schools to improve student performance. This impact study found that the disbursement of federal Title I School Improvement Grants in the process designed by ESE have consistently positive effects on student academic achievement.
Topic: 
Education, District and School Improvement
12 Aug 2015
Report

Evaluation of Massachusetts District and School Turnaround Assistance: Impact of School Redesign Grants (SRG)

Examining whether students in schools receiving School Redesign Grants (SRG) experienced better academic outcomes and attendance than non-SRG students, this evaluation done for the Massachusetts Office of District and School Turnaround Assistance found consistently positive and generally robust effects on student academic achievement, particularly on standardized state assessments. Results also suggest, however, that SRG receipt does not affect student attendance.
Topic: 
District and School Improvement
21 Nov 2016
Spotlight

Spotlight on School Turnaround

Better schools help make better communities and improve students’ chances of success. But what does research tell us about what works in school improvement? Explore what our researchers are learning about turning around struggling schools.
Topic: 
Education, District and School Improvement

Further Reading

  • Evaluation of Level 4 School Turnaround Efforts in Massachusetts- Part 1: Implementation Study
  • Supporting English Learners and Students with Disabilities: Strategies from Turnaround Schools in Massachusetts
  • Student Outcomes Improve in Massachusetts Schools Receiving School Redesign Grants
  • Evaluation of Level 4 School Turnaround Efforts in Massachusetts- Part 2: Impact of School Redesign Grants
  • Evaluation of Massachusetts District and School Turnaround Assistance: Impact of School Redesign Grants (SRG)
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Alex Kistner

Alexandra Kistner

Senior Researcher

Susan Bowles Therriault

Managing Researcher

Topic

Education
District and School Improvement

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