In 2008, educational leaders from the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) assigned a group of turnaround specialists to work in four failing public schools in a large, urban school district in Phoenix, Arizona in hopes of improving those schools. The utilization of turnaround specialists in failing schools was Arizona's method of enacting mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act. This study examined the effectiveness of the Arizona turnaround program and sought to determine means of improving the effectiveness of the program. Data was collected through interviews with the turnaround specialists and supervisory personnel at the ADE, as well as through surveys that were completed by the teachers at the four schools where the turnaround specialists were placed. Quantitative data from the teacher surveys indicated that overall the teachers from the four turnaround schools viewed the turnaround specialists in a positive manner. The ADE supervisors also viewed the turnaround specialist program as an effective means to improve failing schools. However, the eight turnaround specialists who participated in the study were more measured in their evaluation of the program defining areas of improvement which included setting clear expectations, goals, and benchmarks for turnaround specialists and turnaround schools; providing stronger site and district leadership; developing a sense of urgency; ensuring that turnaround specialists understand and are prepared to work in challenging environments; and developing individualized professional development plans for each turnaround specialist. These findings imply that changes in the design of the turnaround specialist program are necessary to improve the turnaround process for those schools that are assigned turnaround specialists. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone(800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]