School Leadership Resources

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.

October 11, 2023 | High-quality learning opportunities for principals can improve their effectiveness, teacher retention, and student achievement—and state and district policies can influence principals’ access to these opportunities. Key policy levers include standards for leadership practices, preparation programs, and licensure as well as investments in induction programs, leadership pipeline programs, and professional development.

September 15, 2022 | Relatively few studies have successfully linked specific features of principal learning to teacher and student outcomes. To begin to address this gap in the literature, LPI researchers conducted a study of the relationship between principal learning opportunities (both preservice preparation and in-service professional development) and key outcomes for the teachers and students in their schools.

May 23, 2022 | Strong school leadership is critical for shaping productive learning environments, supporting excellence in teaching, and influencing student outcomes. But how can leaders strengthen their skills and knowledge to most effectively achieve these effects? Two decades of scholarship shed light on the elements of high-quality principal preparation programs and professional development associated with positive outcomes, as well as research and policy implications for a holistic approach to principal advancement and support.

January 24, 2022 | Advances in neuroscience, developmental, and learning sciences shed light on the ways that teaching practice must transform to support the whole child and cognitively complex learning. How can educators be supported to make these shifts? Research sheds light on the content educators need to learn about children’s learning and development, as well as effective strategies to support educator learning and capacity.

January 14, 2022 | In Leandro v. the State of North Carolina, the Supreme Court of North Carolina found that children have a right to high-quality educators. However, access to a supply of qualified teachers and administrators is increasingly limited and inequitably distributed across the state. Expanding high-quality teacher pipelines and training, updating preparation and professional development, and other strategies could help strengthen North Carolina’s teacher and principal workforce.

November 11, 2020 | School principals have the ability to create an environment that facilitates learning and empowers teachers and other school staff to be effective in the classroom and school community. Research shows that providing elementary school principals with access to high-quality professional learning can build their capacity to lead successful schools and foster student success. Yet many principals report obstacles to participating in professional development.

October 27, 2020 | “Positive outlier” districts in California have excelled at helping African American, Latino/a, and White students achieve at high levels on assessments of academic standards in English language arts and mathematics. Case studies of seven of these districts indicate that districts can develop leaders by identifying leadership talent from among teachers and cultivating their talent to enable some to move into principalships and central office positions.