School Leadership Resources

May 18, 2026 | 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.

May 18, 2026 | 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.

May 18, 2026 | 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.

November 4, 2025 | 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.

July 30, 2025 | 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.

August 15, 2024 | 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.

May 23, 2024 | Effective educational leaders are important for student and teacher success, yet leaders’ access to professional learning varies across states and communities. States can use federal, state, and local funding sources to build infrastructure to support long-term leadership development and meet the professional learning needs of their educational leaders.

May 14, 2024 | In 2019, state legislators re-invested in the discontinued 21st Century California School Leadership Academy (21CSLA) to provide free, high-quality professional learning to PreK–12 educational leaders. Evidence suggests 21CSLA has positively influenced participants' knowledge, skills, and practices, particularly in areas related to evidence-based practices, continuous improvement, and equity.

October 17, 2023 | Today’s K–12 school leaders must have the skills to shift institutions toward deeper learning models built on collaboration, critical thinking, and project-based learning. Highlighting exemplary educational leadership preparation programs, this book describes how programs can prepare principals to guide their schools, teachers, and students toward deeper learning and equity.

October 13, 2023 | Strong school leadership is critical for shaping engaging learning environments, supporting teachers, and influencing student outcomes. This book examines examples of high-quality leadership programs, the extent to which principals have access to them, and the policies that drive program development and accessibility.