What happens when a flagship school begins to falter—losing its academic edge, leadership stability, and community trust? In this episode, we talk with the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, authorizer of Bethesda Academy in Cincinnati. Once a model of innovation and community engagement, Bethesda struggled with founder transition, curriculum drift, and pandemic disruptions. Fordham’s team shares how they identified the distress signals, engaged the board, and navigated tough decisions around takeover versus closure. This case study highlights the importance of instructional oversight, authentic communication, and board partnership in authorizing practice.

What happens when a school is showing early signs of distress—but still holds promise? In this episode, we talk with a statewide authorizer who leaned into their core role—regulator, connector, thought partner—to guide a struggling school through a challenging transition. With support from a local incubator, the Opportunity Trust, and an emerging school leader already planning to launch her own school, this turnaround story offers insight into what strong, differentiated authorizing can look like in action.

We dive into a powerful case study of Crestwood Academy Alternative School in El Segundo, California, and its partnership with the authorizer, Los Angeles County Office of Education, or LACOE.