The Chief Turnaround
Office was created to develop and effectively execute an evidence-based model
to implement the First Priority Act (House Bill 338) – which aligns to Georgia’s ESSA
Plan. This innovative strategy is a
comprehensive, coordinated, and coherent approach to improve outcomes in
schools that have been identified as being most in need of assistance. In addition, as envisioned in the First
Priority Act, the model is an opportunity to inform Georgia’s overarching approach
of addressing low-performing schools.
This effort
is a partnership between schools, districts, parents, community stakeholders,
and policy-makers. Georgia’s school
turnaround strategy is essential
because:
- Ensuring
Georgia has an educated and skilled workforce is paramount
Creating great
schools will create great communities
- Giving
all children an opportunity to achieve is a moral imperative

The First
Priority Act embeds four decisive expectations that undergirds a comprehensive
model to effectively implement the legislation:
- Develop partnerships with schools and district stakeholders
- Provide an additional tier of academic and non-academic support
to improve outcomes at targeted schools
- Promote cohesiveness and collaboration across agencies and
organizations
- Share and
promote innovative/best practices to impact schools statewide