Educational LeadershipPaperback, 10 May 2011

No major social institution has been under more scrutiny or under such pressure to change than the American public school system. One of the most recent initiatives in educational reform has been district takeover of public school systems. A takeover is the commandeering of day-to- day control of district operations and decision- making in an unsuccessful or failing school district. Despite attempts by state departments and governments to takeover failing school districts, success is often short-lived and unsustainable in the absence of the takeover. As a result, efforts to either abandon takeovers as an effective reform strategy or to create long-term sustainable results need to occur. A public school district in Logan County, West Virginia is one of only three school districts reported nationwide to have sustained- success. Seven key characteristics that contributed to the sustainability of this district takeover were identified. Only through a relentless pursuit of sustained-success will answers be found to solve some of the problems facing public education in America.