Most people are all familiar with the idea of turning around a failing business or nonprofit organization, and the literature on these topics is robust. But no such research base exists for turning around failing schools though state takeovers of failing schools has been a practice for at least a decade, and the number of failing schools needing to be turned around has skyrocketed.

Murphy and Meyers have integrated the literature and research on the concept of turnarounds in businesses, non-profits, and schools for an insightful and detailed look at what schools can learn from other organizations in trouble of failing. By pulling out the leadership strategies and lessons learned, the authors illustrate how schools can use a new framework to craft successful reform initiatives.