Do turnaround schools work?

Chicago public schools have a reputation for being one of the weakest school systems in the nation However, there are a number of initiatives aimed at changing this perception. In this episode we film two such initiatives. the Academy of Unban School Leadership, envisioned and founded by a Chicago leader, Michael Koldyke, takes 3 or 4 of the poorest performing Chicago public schools, changes or retrains the personnel, meets with parents whose children are attending the school, and reopens with a new philosophy of discipline, learning and academic progress. To date they have turned around 31 such schools including two high schools. The second initiative, Strategic Learning Initiatives led by John Simmons, works with existing personnel in each school to which they are invited, with the belief that change can occur with the same teachers and leaders if these personnel are given opportunities to develop their own ideals to properly teach and lead.