School Leadership

School leadership is second only to teaching among school-related factors in its impact on student learning, according to research. Moreover, principals strongly shape the conditions for high-quality teaching and are the prime factor in determining whether teachers stay in high-needs schools. High-quality principals, therefore, are vital to the effectiveness of our nation’s public schools, especially those serving the children with the fewest advantages in life.

Browse the reports and other resources on these pages for insights into school leadership and how to improve it.

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District Partnerships with University Principal Preparation Programs: A Summary of Findings for School District Leaders	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/district-partnerships-with-university-principal-preparation-programs.aspx	District Partnerships with University Principal Preparation Programs: A Summary of Findings for School District Leaders	School districts can help improve university programs that prepare their future principals. The key? A strong partnership with the university. <br>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Report	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/district-partnerships-with-university-principal-preparation-programs-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/district-partnerships-with-university-principal-preparation-programs-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	6/28/2022 4:00:00 AM
State Partnerships With University Principal Preparation Programs: A Summary of Findings for State Policymakers	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/state-partnerships-with-university-principal-preparation-programs.aspx	State Partnerships With University Principal Preparation Programs: A Summary of Findings for State Policymakers	States can be active participants in efforts to improve principal preparation, taking steps including developing strong principal standards. <br>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Report	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/state-partnerships-with-university-principal-preparation-programs-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/state-partnerships-with-university-principal-preparation-programs-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	6/28/2022 4:00:00 AM
Collaborating on University Principal Preparation Program Redesign: A Summary of Findings for University Principal Preparation Program Providers	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/collaborating-on-university-principal-preparation-program-redesign.aspx	Collaborating on University Principal Preparation Program Redesign: A Summary of Findings for University Principal Preparation Program Providers	This brief offers insights for improving university principal preparation programs. One key? Strong partnerships between programs and school districts. <br>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Report	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/collaborating-on-university-principal-preparation-program-redesign-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/collaborating-on-university-principal-preparation-program-redesign-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	6/28/2022 4:00:00 AM
Redesigning University Principal Preparation Programs: A Systemic Approach for Change and Sustainability—Report in Brief	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/redesigning-university-principal-preparation-programs-a-systemic-approach-for-change-and-sustainability.aspx	Redesigning University Principal Preparation Programs: A Systemic Approach for Change and Sustainability—Report in Brief	Collaborating with school districts and others, universities can revamp their principal preparation programming so it reflects the best available evidence about high-quality pre-service school leadership training. <br>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Report	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/redesigning-university-principal-preparation-programs-brief-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/redesigning-university-principal-preparation-programs-brief-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	6/1/2022 4:00:00 AM
Developing Effective Principals: What Kind of Learning Matters?	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/developing-effective-principals-what-kind-of-learning-matters.aspx	Developing Effective Principals: What Kind of Learning Matters?	High-quality principal development is linked to better outcomes for principals, teachers and students, but access to it varies by state and school poverty levels. Policy change can help. <br>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Report	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/developing-effective-principals-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/developing-effective-principals-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	5/25/2022 4:00:00 AM
Strong Pipelines, Strong Principals: A Guide for Leveraging Federal Sources to Fund Principal Pipelines	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/Strong-Pipelines-Strong-Principals-A-guide-for-leveraging-federal-sources-to-fund-principal-pipelines.aspx	Strong Pipelines, Strong Principals: A Guide for Leveraging Federal Sources to Fund Principal Pipelines	<p>This guide can help school district decision-makers understand the federal funding sources that can be tapped to develop sound principal pipelines. <br></p>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Guide	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/Strong-Pipelines-Strong-Principals-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/Strong-Pipelines-Strong-Principals-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	12/1/2021 5:00:00 AM
Principal Leadership in a Virtual Environment	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/Principal-Leadership-in-a-Virtual-Environment.aspx	Principal Leadership in a Virtual Environment	<p>Education technology experts provide early considerations for how to develop a pipeline of effective, equity-minded principals who have mastered operating in a virtual realm. <br></p>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Report	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/Principal-Leadership-in-a-Virtual-Environment-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/Principal-Leadership-in-a-Virtual-Environment-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	11/16/2021 5:00:00 AM
How Can State Policy Support Local School Districts as They Develop Principal Pipelines?	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/How-Can-State-Policy-Support-Local-School-Districts-Develop-Principal-Pipelines.aspx	How Can State Policy Support Local School Districts as They Develop Principal Pipelines?	States can pull a number of policy levers to help school districts develop, support and maintain a large corps of effective school principals. <br><br>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Report	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/How-Can-State-Policy-Support-Local-School-Districts-Principal-Pipelines-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/How-Can-State-Policy-Support-Local-School-Districts-Principal-Pipelines-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	10/5/2021 4:00:00 AM
Comments from The Wallace Foundation to the Department of Education on defining the term “educators” in Proposed Priorities and Definitions	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/comment-letter-on-discretionary-grants-programs-by-the-wallace-foundation-7-28-21.aspx	Comments from The Wallace Foundation to the Department of Education on defining the term “educators” in Proposed Priorities and Definitions	Wallace recommends that the Department define “educators” as “teachers, principals and other school leaders"<br><br>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Report	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/comment-letter-on-discretionary-grants-programs-by-the-wallace-foundation-7-28-21-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/comment-letter-on-discretionary-grants-programs-by-the-wallace-foundation-7-28-21-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	8/5/2021 4:00:00 AM
The Role of Assistant Principals: Evidence and Insights for Advancing School Leadership	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/The-Role-of-Assistant-Principals-Evidence-Insights-for-Advancing-School-Leadership.aspx	The Role of Assistant Principals: Evidence and Insights for Advancing School Leadership	The number of assistant principals has grown markedly in recent years, and with reconsideration, the AP role could do more to help foster educational equity, school improvement and principal effectiveness. <br>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Report	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/The-Role-of-Assistant-Principals-Evidence-Insights-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/The-Role-of-Assistant-Principals-Evidence-Insights-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	4/13/2021 4:00:00 AM

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