The Arizona state board of education has given its approval to the state education department to take over the operations of 11 schools that have underperformed on state assessments for three consecutive years.
The interventions, which will be in place by July 1 and are slated to last from two to five years, mark the first time that Arizona has used the power to take over persistently low-performing schools that it was granted in a 2001 state law, said Amy Rezzonico, a spokeswoman for the state department of education.
Plans already drafted for the schools call for such interventions as removing five principals, providing mentoring to principals who will remain in their posts, replacing teachers, and merging campuses, Ms. Rezzonico said.
The state school board unanimously approved the interventions March 28.
