When a school fails, options for next steps may seem impossible or nonexistent, leaving school leaders uncertain about what to do next. “Under No Child Left Behind policies, struggling schools face the possibility of a “restructuring” in which half or more of the teachers could be fired or a complete school closure. Often, these schools are in economically disadvantaged areas and students face challenges such as "lack of health care, more lead poisoning, iron deficiency anemia, family instability, greater exposure to crime and drugs, fewer positive role models and less exposure to drugs.” culturally uplifting experiences. The question being debated is whether we can improve these failing schools. Some believe it is in the best interests of students to close schools and start again. However, others argue that “it may take courage to close schools, but it takes experience, wisdom and perseverance – as well as courage – to improve them and strengthen families and communities”. poverty will lead to poor academic performance, which will cause teachers to lower their expectations. But just because a neighborhood isn't well-off doesn't mean there's no hope for students. An Alabama elementary school went from a school located in "an area of ​​Mobile known for high crime rates and intergenerational poverty" with low achievement to one whose "achievement rose to a higher level." often associated with white, middle-class students. The article points out that schools that successfully pivot have some common characteristics, starting with a primary goal “to help students learn a lot.” While many schools assume that students have all the prerequisite knowledge... middle of paper ... concrete evidence presented for yes and what seems like a weak argument for no, I think it is possible to turn around schools in difficulty. When teachers truly want what is best for students, it appears that the process is successful. The important part of the process seems to be giving teachers the time they need to make quality changes. Telling teachers to work together on planning and improvement will only be beneficial if the school is able to give them structured time during the day to do so. If the classroom schedule is packed with instructional time, teachers won't be able to focus on their students' individual needs and on important things like reviewing their tests with them. I believe that with the right resources and time, it is possible to turn around struggling schools and provide the greatest benefit to students..