The U.S. secretary of education's call to "turn around" the nation's 5,000 worst-performing schools has found a warm welcome among educators and policy makers who see that focus as long overdue. But it has also sparked debate about how--and whether--such an enormous leadership and management challenge can be accomplished. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is pressing for attention to chronically underperforming schools as one of four areas that states must address if they are to receive federal economic-stimulus aid. Now, Duncan is seeking to rally an army to overhaul learning in the lowest-performing 5% of schools over five years. He's calling on "turnaround specialists," charter school groups, unions, school districts, and states to do their part. Few dispute that bold action on low-performing schools has been lacking. But even with new political leadership and money, the job may require more of the field than it can deliver. The author talks about the secretary of education's call for school turnarounds which points up challenges in fixing low-performing schools. Turnaround strategies outlined by the U.S. secretary of education in a June 22 speech are presented.