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School Leadership

School Leadership

Effective school leaders are essential for ensuring that students have access to strong educational opportunities. They shape a vision of academic success for all students; create a positive school climate; cultivate leadership in others so that teachers and other adults feel empowered to realize their schools’ visions; guide instructional decisions that improve teaching and learning; and manage people, data, and processes to foster school improvement. They also play a major role in retaining effective teachers and ensuring their success in the classroom. Ultimately, school leaders have a significant impact on students’ experiences and achievement. 

The Learning Policy Institute’s work and research related to school leadership covers a variety of topics, including strategies to:
  • recruit and effectively prepare school leaders; 
  • create high-quality professional learning opportunities to build leadership capacity;
  • reduce principal turnover, which can be disruptive to school progress;
  • improve working conditions; and
  • ensure equitable and supportive accountability systems that encourage principals and other educators to work in high-needs schools.
View a complete list of LPI's publications, blogs, and events on the topic of school leadership. View all
The Wallace Foundation’s School Leadership Knowledge Center offers reports and other resources for insights into the importance of school leadership and strategies to improve it. Browse resources