The researchers drew upon more than 100 interviews with turnaround experts, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and funders. Their research also included an extensive review of secondary reports and articles as well as a synthesis of discussions among 275 turnaround focused actors who attended the “Driving Dramatic School Improvement Conference” on January 11, 2010, cohosted by FSG and Stanford Social Innovation Review. 

Finally, FSG drew extensively on the guidance and feedback of an advisory group consisting of a broad cross-section of turnaround actors, including state and district leaders, philanthropic funders, human capital providers, school operators, education entrepreneurs, and researchers. Please note that the authors use the term “school operator” throughout the paper to represent charter, private and other nonprofit school operators and management organizations.