Q1: What is a Chronically Underperforming School?
A: A "chronically underperforming" school is both low performing and not showing signs of substantial improvement over time. "Chronically underperforming" refers to the placement of the school in the state's accountability system which classifies schools based on their student performance. A school with low performance could be designated chronically underperforming by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education because of significant concerns about the capacity of the school and district to make the changes necessary to raise student achievement at the school to acceptable performance levels.
The Commissioner is responsible for creating a turnaround plan for a chronically underperforming school. The Commissioner will name a "receiver" to operate the school and implement the turnaround plan; the Commissioner also may designate the receiver to develop the turnaround plan. The receiver may be an individual, an organization, or the Superintendent. While in chronically underperforming status, the school is not under the authority of the local school committee and may receive state support from a targeted assistance team.
The authorities and flexibilities granted through the turnaround plan empower the Superintendent or the receiver to implement an ambitious and accelerated reform agenda so that students receive the quality of education that they need to meet the high standards that we hold for all students in the Commonwealth.
Q2: How are chronically underperforming schools identified? What data are used?
Chronically underperforming schools are identified from the state's "underperforming" schools, a designation that the Commissioner may apply to schools in the lowest performing 20% of schools in the Commonwealth based upon an analysis of performance indicators over multiple years. Before a school may be designated as chronically underperforming by the Commissioner, a school must be designated underperforming in the state's accountability system and fail to improve significantly. Through the chronically underperforming designation, the Commissioner empowers the Superintendent or receiver with additional autonomies and supports to enact reforms that are aimed at producing rapid improvement.
Q3: How many chronically underperforming schools are there currently?
A: Under the timelines provided in the statute, 2013 was the first time that the Commissioner has been able to designate chronically underperforming schools under statute. Currently, four schools have been designated chronically underperforming. The law states that not more than 4% of the total number of public schools may be designated as underperforming (Level 4) or chronically underperforming (Level 5) at any given time.
Q4: Who has the Commissioner selected to work with him on the chronically underperforming schools?
A: By law, the Commissioner can either ask the Superintendent of the district to lead a chronically underperforming school (which may include support from a targeted assistance team), or he can name a new leader, called a receiver, to lead the school. Whether the Superintendent or a receiver, the leader will report directly to the Commissioner regarding the school and will be accountable for improving education for every student in the school.
On January 29, 2014, the Commissioner announced the following decisions about who would work with him to develop and implement his turnaround plan for each of the four chronically underperforming schools.
Q5: How are stakeholders such as teachers, parents, students, and community members involved in decisions regarding a chronically underperforming school?
A: Stakeholders such as parents, teachers, and community members are essential to turning around a chronically underperforming school. Prior to designating a school chronically underperforming, the Commissioner will hold roundtable discussions at the school with stakeholders including parents, teachers, and community members. Within 30 days following the chronically underperforming school designation, the Commissioner will convene a Chronically Underperforming School Local Stakeholder Group with representation from teachers, parents, the surrounding community, social service organizations, and other representation as outlined in statute. The Local Stakeholder Group may submit recommendations to the Commissioner for his consideration as he develops a turnaround plan. The Local Stakeholder Group will also have the opportunity to review the Commissioner's preliminary turnaround plan and propose modifications.
Q6: What is the relationship of the district's Superintendent to a chronically underperforming school?
A: The Commissioner may select the Superintendent to implement the school's turnaround plan. If the Commissioner selects the Superintendent to implement the plan (potentially with support from a targeted assistance team), the Superintendent will be responsible for implementing all of the components of the plan and will be responsible for the school meeting all goals and targets set within the plan. The authority to make changes in the school is embodied in the turnaround plan.
If the Commissioner selects an external receiver to operate the school and implement the turnaround plan, the receiver has managerial and operational control of the school, including the implementation of the turnaround plan. The receiver is invested with all powers that the Superintendent previously had over the school. The Superintendent would still retain her/his managerial and operational authorities for the other schools in the district that have not been designated chronically underperforming.
Whether an external receiver or the Superintendent is selected by the Commissioner to implement his turnaround plan, that person or organization reports to the Commissioner regarding the work on the chronically underperforming school.
Q7: What is the relationship of the district's school committee to a chronically underperforming school?
A: The school committee still retains its customary role and authorities for the other schools in the district that have not been designated chronically underperforming. The Commissioner or external receiver, as applicable, presents a written report to the school committee on a quarterly basis to provide specific information about the progress being made on the implementation of a chronically underperforming school's turnaround plan, including an annual evaluation of the school's progress.
Q8: What happens to teachers in chronically underperforming schools?
A: Teachers and other educators are essential to turning around a chronically underperforming school. Some teachers currently working in chronically underperforming schools may be interested in contributing to the reforms that will be proposed by the chronically underperforming turnaround plans. On the other hand, the vision for transformational change embodied in the turnaround plan may not be the right fit for every existing teacher at the school. State law establishes conditions by which all staff in the school may be required to reapply for positions in the school. (MGLc.69, § 1J (o)) Each chronically underperforming school's turnaround plan addresses working conditions at the school.
Q9: If the chronically underperforming school's receiver is named in the middle of the school year, do changes take effect immediately?
A: If a receiver is named mid-year, the district will continue to manage the chronically underperforming school's daily operations for the remainder of the school year. Staff currently working at a chronically underperforming school will continue in their jobs, and the school schedule will remain the same during this period. Students and staff should not expect significant changes in the remaining months of the school year. The receiver will use this time to prepare to assume full operational and managerial control of the school over the summer, and will manage all day-to-day operations at the school the next school year..
Q10: What is the state's role in chronically underperforming schools?
A: The Commissioner is responsible for convening the Local Stakeholder Group, creating the turnaround plan, and evaluating the school at least annually. In addition, the state's role in chronically underperforming schools includes defining exit criteria, including measurable annual goals tailored to each school; assessing school and district capacity to dramatically improve student achievement; monitoring the school's progress; and providing targeted assistance.
Q11: Where can I find the turnaround plan for a chronically underperforming school?
A: All chronically underperforming school turnaround plans are posted on DESE's chronically underperforming Schools website.
Q12: Will parents have the right to transfer their child to another school from a chronically underperforming school?
A: Parents with children in chronically underperforming schools maintain the same rights to request a transfer to another school in the district as they did prior to the chronically underperforming identification.
Q13: How does a school exit chronically underperforming status?
A: Upon the expiration of a turnaround plan for a chronically underperforming school, the Commissioner conducts a review of the school to determine whether the school has achieved the necessary academic and other progress required in the turnaround plan and whether the district has the capacity to continue making progress in improving the school's performance. If the school has made significant improvement, the Commissioner may determine that the school has improved sufficiently for the designation of chronically underperforming to be removed.
Q14: Where can I get more information about chronically underperforming schools?
A: For updates regarding DESE's work with the chronically underperforming schools, please see our Chronically Underperforming Schools website. For any questions or concerns about a chronically underperforming school, you may also email DESE at districtassist@doe.mass.edu .
Last Updated: February 20, 2024
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