Turnaround Strategies & the President's Back-To-School Message

Turnaround strategies for the lowest performing schools are one of the major focuses of the economic stimulus program for education. At the end of August Arne Duncan announced that in order to end cycles of poverty and social failure "we must address the needs of children who have long been ignored and marginalized in chronically low-achieving schools." $3 billion to fund new resources and improve teaching quality will come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, with money only going to schools that support "rigorous intervention" and promise "rapid improvements." Duncan certainly favors dramatic turnaround policies, as his support for the Race To The Top program indicates — a program targeting high-quality, rather than failing schools.

This is all happening as Barack Obama is set to address students in a back-to-school address that emphasizes an investment of responsibility: By government, by teachers, and by students:

...at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.

At almost 2,500 words, it's a lot for students to sit to take in, but he know it's not just the kids listening:

Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need ... I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn.

[Photo credit: Changedotgov]