States and districts should treat identifying and developing effective principals as a priority given the central importance of school leadership¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The fact sheet directs state and district attention to school leadership as a lever for improvement. It argues that because of "the central importance of school leadership," it is important to ask "what makes for an effective principal," positioning leader development as a system-level strategy for raising student achievement. The fact sheet itself is framed as guidance on how states and districts can develop effective school leaders.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• District and state decision makers must treat principal effectiveness as a question worth investigating, per the fact sheet's framing.

Constraints¶

• The page provides the rationale and framing but does not print specific development program components or evidence about particular programs.

Target Learners¶

• School principals
• School leaders in K-12 districts and states

Target Learning Goals¶

• Instructional leadership
• Creating collaborative environments for staff
• Supporting student academic progress

Related Strategies¶

• Small school reformers should intentionally build professional community, principal leadership, and teacher influence rather than relying on size reduction

Examples¶

-

Key Sources¶

• REL Mid-Atlantic. (2019). What Are Effective School Leaders, and How Can States and Districts Develop Them? (Fact Sheet). Washington, DC: Mid-Atlantic Regional Educational Laboratory. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs