North Carolina Transformation (NCT) initiative: A tailored intervention to improve lowest-performing schools through coaching and support services

North Carolina Transformation (NCT) initiative is a program that targets the lowest performing schools in North Carolina to improve their performance. The program involves a comprehensive needs assessment (CNA) and unpacking process, followed by coaching and support services provided by the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI). The coaching services are tailored to the specific needs of each school and are intended to build the capacity of school staff to improve student achievement. The program does not involve any of the four federal turnaround models, which include replacing the principal and at least half of the staff, turning over the management of the school to a charter management organization, or closing the school. Instead, the NCT initiative focuses on building the capacity of existing staff and providing them with the support and resources they need to improve student achievement.