Built to Last: The Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership

The Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (formed in 2014) is turning around low-performing schools in Springfield, Massachusetts. The state, the Springfield Public Schools (SPS), and the teachers union formed a voluntary partnership that aims to vastly improve outcomes in a group of the district’s middle schools. As SPS Superintendent Daniel Warwick notes: “What we were doing before was not working for these schools and we needed to try something different. We wanted schools to have flexibility and accountability but we needed to do it in partnership with the state, union, and community. And we did.” Read more.