WestEd School Turnaround Center

The WestEd School Turnaround Center partners with districts nationwide to provide comprehensive school turnaround and transformation services leading to rapid improvement in low-performing schools.

What We Do

• We help districts and schools implement the turnaround and transformation intervention models outlined in the federal School Improvement Grant guidelines.
• Our methods are based on rigorous research into what works to improve and support student achievement, especially English learners and students with disabilities.
• Our approach focuses on multiple dimensions of successful schools, including leadership, staff quality, curriculum and assessment, effective classroom instruction, and a safe and positive school environment.
• We work within the culture and context of each school and district, and create a tailored plan of action that addresses the school's specific needs and strengths.
• We focus relentlessly on successful implementation. We use our own state-of-the-art technology to develop online action plans for stakeholders to monitor progress.
• We expect all participants, including ourselves, to be mutually accountable for achieving agreed-upon results.
• We build support among teachers, administrators, support staff, parents, and the broader community for the school turnaround efforts.

Who Facilitates Your Learning

The WestEd School Turnaround Center, led by Fred Tempes and Jan Phlegar, comprises experienced former school and district leaders with proven track records leading local and state reform efforts. WestEd staff also have special expertise and years of experience as practitioners and researchers in building the capacity of educators to increase the academic achievement of all students, with particular expertise in the needs of English learners and students with disabilities.

What Research Informs the Work

The work of the WestEd School Turnaround Center draws from the following recent research focused on the process of turning around low-performing schools:

• Institute of Education Sciences practice guide on turning around chronically low-performing schools (Herman et al., 2008)
• Anthony Bryk and John Easton's book on school reform efforts in Chicago (Bryk et al., 2010)
• Recent study commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education describing 11 initially low-performing elementary and middle schools receiving support under the federal Comprehensive School Reform program that were able to make dramatic improvements in academic performance (U.S. Department of Education, 2010)

Because relatively little research has been done on turnaround schools, the WestEd School Turnaround Center also draws significantly from research on "beating the odds" schools. We know that these schools share the following six characteristics, and have organized WestEd's approach to school turnaround and transformation around them.

• They have effective school leadership (U.S. Department of Education, 2010; Bryk et al., 2010; Picucci et al., 2002).
• They operate with a cadre of high-quality, committed teachers (Bryk et al., 2010; Lachat & Smith, 2005).
• They provide a rigorous, standards-based curriculum and use formative assessments to understand student learning and guide instruction (U.S. Department of Education, 2010; Tung & Ouimette, 2007).
• They incorporate targeted, ongoing professional development to ensure instructional quality (Bryk et al., 2010; Johnson & Asera, 1999; Conzemius, 2000).
• They have created a safe school environment and a supportive climate of mutual trust, both within the school and with parents and the community (U.S. Department of Education, 2010; Bryk et al., 2010; Herman et al., 2008; Johnson & Asera, 1999).
• They align all of their fiscal and human resources to support student achievement (Bryk et al., 2010).

Lastly, our approach to implementation is guided heavily by the work of Dean Fixsen and his colleagues at the National Implementation Research Network (Fixsen et al., 2005).

What Past Clients Report

"Our success is a great story about continuous improvement, constant refinement and consistent focus. We thank WestEd for the patience and the partnership."
— Patricia Portwood, Associate Superintendent ALC A, Modesto City Schools

"One year after working with the WestEd team, our system has moved from 'middle of the pack' to the highest ranking district within those most in need of improvement."
— Carol A. Parish, District Superintendent, South Bay Union School District

"The training provided by WestEd has been outstanding. WestEd staff asked tough questions, referenced our data, and helped us realize that more directive and comprehensive reforms must be implemented to exit School Improvement."
— Charlotte Boyle, Superintendent, Creighton Elementary School District

Success Stories

WestEd has helped numerous low-performing districts and schools significantly increase student performance. Check out a sample of our successful partnerships.

Related Website

Please visit the WestEd School Turnaround Center website for more information on how we can help you turn around your school.

Contact Information

Ken Futernick
916.747.2332
kfuternick@wested.org

Stephen Hamilton
781.481.1104
shamilt@wested.org