School Leadership Resources

July 18, 2019 | High quality principals are essential to students' educational opportunities and outcomes, but principal turnover is an ongoing problem in the United States. A 2017 survey of public school principals found that approximately 18% had left their position since the previous year. In high poverty schools, the turnover rate was 21%. This brief includes insights, experiences, and expertise from school leaders on the challenges associated with being a school principal and strategies to address those challenges.

March 19, 2019 | School principals are responsible for maintaining a positive school climate, motivating school staff, and enhancing teachers’ practice. They are vital to ensuring teachers’ success in the classroom and students’ success, but one in five principals leaves their school each year and the numbers are worse in schools in underserved communities. Inadequate preparation, poor working conditions, insufficient salaries, lack of authority, and high-stakes accountability policies are among the drivers of principal turnover that must be addressed.

October 15, 2018 | A study including a survey of California principals and interviews with principals, former principals, and superintendents finds that California’s education leaders experience only some elements of high-quality preparation and professional development, and often miss out on the most valuable elements of quality learning experiences. Moreover, their participation in professional learning opportunities that support them in leading schools that develop students’ deeper learning and social and emotional competencies is inconsistent. They do, however, want more of it.

June 13, 2017 | Principals are essential to improving student achievement and narrowing persistent achievement gaps. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides opportunities for states to use federal funds to invest in developing and supporting effective school leaders, such as supporting their recruitment, preparation, and training using the optional state set-aside under Title II. This brief summarizes the evidence about the importance of principals, describes research-based practices in leadership development, and outlines promising, evidence-based investments from submitted and draft ESSA state plans.

February 27, 2017 | Principals play a central role in creating schools in which students thrive academically and the teaching staff is strong, stable, and supported. This report analyzes the research on quality preparation and professional development programs for principals, highlighting examples of effective programs and providing guidance for policymakers.

February 27, 2017 | Improving student achievement requires strong school leadership. Principals also play a critical role in addressing widespread teacher shortages by creating school environments that attract and retain competent teachers. This fact sheet summarizes key elements of high-quality and effective preparation and professional development programs designed to enable principals to improve student and school outcomes.

February 27, 2017 | Turnover accounts for 90% of the demand for new teachers, exacerbating shortages and undermining academic progress. This brief summarizes research on the important role that principals can play in reducing the steady churn of teachers and highlights actions states and districts can take to strengthen school leadership.