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Investing in school principals may be the highest-leverage strategy to address education's most pressing challenges — from teacher retention to student achievement. Strong preparation, ongoing professional development, and better working conditions help principals build the thriving schools every student deserves.
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Public schools face mounting challenges, including student mental health, chronic absenteeism, academic achievement, and teacher shortages. Yet the principal's impact is often overlooked. Effective leadership strengthens instruction, builds positive climate, and stabilizes the workforce. Investing in principal preparation, support, and retention is a powerful strategy for improving outcomes and advancing equity.
Linda Darling-HammondJulie FitzMaría Virginia GianiMolly F. GordonMarjorie Wechsler
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Public schools face mounting challenges, including student mental health, chronic absenteeism, academic achievement, and teacher shortages. Yet the principal's impact is often overlooked. Effective leadership strengthens instruction, builds positive climate, and stabilizes the workforce. Investing in principal preparation, support, and retention is a powerful strategy for improving outcomes and advancing equity.
Linda Darling-HammondJulie FitzMaría Virginia GianiMolly F. GordonMarjorie Wechsler
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Public schools face mounting challenges, including student mental health, chronic absenteeism, academic achievement, and teacher shortages. Yet the principal's impact is often overlooked. Effective leadership strengthens instruction, builds positive climate, and stabilizes the workforce. Investing in principal preparation, support, and retention is a powerful strategy for improving outcomes and advancing equity.
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Research confirms that principal turnover negatively impacts student achievement and teacher retention. A California-focused analysis of statewide data examines trends in principal preparation, experience, and distribution, identifying key school, district, and principal characteristics associated with turnover across the state.
Linda Darling-HammondLarkin WillisDesiree Carver-Thomas
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Despite decades of reforms, race and class remain among the most reliable predictors of student success. Findings from four southern school districts show how leaders used strategic planning, capacity building, data use, equitable resource allocation, and sustained leadership to reduce persistent disparities in achievement, graduation, and discipline for students of color.
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This practice brief from EdPrepLab highlights the partnership between Montclair State University’s Network for Educational Renewal and the Paterson Public School District in northern New Jersey, illustrating how a coherent, transparent structure grounded in mutual accountability can sustain effective collaboration over time.
Larkin WillisDesiree Carver-ThomasLinda Darling-HammondPeter W. Cookson, Jr.Maria E. HylerMarjorie WechslerWesley Wei
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School leaders in four districts improved outcomes for students of color through racial equity reform efforts. Their approaches offer insights for education leaders and policymakers aiming to reduce disparities and improve racial equity in schools.
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This EdPrepLab brief highlights how the Leaders for Equity and Democracy (LEAD) program at the University of California, Berkeley, redesigned the ED Year 1 course, Methods in Educational and Psychological Research, to align with Science of Learning and Development (SoLD) principles.
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Recognizing the importance of school leaders to teachers and students, California revised its standards guiding induction for administrators. The 2-year model includes coaching, PD, and assessments. An analysis of survey data and case studies provides policy recommendations to strengthen programs, better address administrator needs, and improve accessibility.
