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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A Culturally Responsive School Leadership Approach to Developing Equity-Centered Principals: Considerations for Principal Pipelines	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/a-culturally-responsive-leadership-approach-equity-centered-principals.aspx	A Culturally Responsive School Leadership Approach to Developing Equity-Centered Principals: Considerations for Principal Pipelines	How could school districts construct principal pipelines that produce school leaders who advance equity in education? A team of scholars offers ideas. <br>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Report	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/a-culturally-responsive-school-leadership-approach-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/a-culturally-responsive-school-leadership-approach-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	7/11/2023 4:00:00 AM
Planning and Developing Principal Pipelines: Approaches, Opportunities, and Challenges	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/planning-and-developing-principal-pipelines.aspx	Planning and Developing Principal Pipelines: Approaches, Opportunities, and Challenges	A study of school system efforts to strengthen the principalship offers lessons for districts. One takeaway: It helps to have a core team in the central office in charge of the work.<br>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Report	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/planning-and-developing-principal-pipelines-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/planning-and-developing-principal-pipelines-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	6/28/2023 4:00:00 AM
Assistant Principal Advancement to the Principalship: A Guide for School Districts	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/assistant-principal-advancement-to-the-principalship-a-guide-for-school-districts.aspx	Assistant Principal Advancement to the Principalship: A Guide for School Districts	This guide can help school districts that want to examine and improve how they prepare assistant principals for the principal’s job. <br>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Guide	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/assistant-principal-advancement-a-guide-for-school-districts-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/assistant-principal-advancement-a-guide-for-school-districts-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	6/15/2023 4:00:00 AM
Principal Pipeline Sustainability Guide	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/principal-pipeline-sustainability-guide.aspx	Principal Pipeline Sustainability Guide	This guide explains what it takes to sustain an effective principal pipeline and provides tools to help school district teams keep the pipeline going.<br>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Report	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/principal-pipeline-sustainability-guide-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/principal-pipeline-sustainability-guide-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	5/23/2023 4:00:00 AM
States as Leaders, Followers, and Partners: Lessons from the ESSA Leadership Learning Community and the University Principal Preparation Initiative	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/states-as-leaders,-followers-and-partners-essa-luniversity-principal-prep.aspx	States as Leaders, Followers, and Partners: Lessons from the ESSA Leadership Learning Community and the University Principal Preparation Initiative	<p>States can foster fruitful partnerships among institutions seeking to develop effective school principals: a key takeaway from reflections on two Wallace efforts involving states. <br></p>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Report	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/states-as-leaders-followers-partners-essa-university-principal-prep-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/states-as-leaders-followers-partners-essa-university-principal-prep-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	11/15/2022 5:00:00 AM
All the Voices: Statewide Collaborations for School Leadership under ESSA	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/all-the-voices-statewide-collaborations-for-school-leadership-under-essa.aspx	All the Voices: Statewide Collaborations for School Leadership under ESSA	<p>What happens when teams from 11 states join a novel effort to promote effective, equity-minded school leadership? Policy ideas and innovative programs. <br></p>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Report	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/all-the-voices-statewide-collaborations-for-school-leadership-under-essa-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/all-the-voices-statewide-collaborations-for-school-leadership-under-essa-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	9/20/2022 4:00:00 AM
Research Series on the University Principal Preparation Initiative	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/research-series-on-the-university-principal-preparation-initiative.aspx	Research Series on the University Principal Preparation Initiative	Multi-part study examines effort to improve university-based school leadership programs<br>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Research Series	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/uppi-series-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	7/28/2022 4:00:00 AM
What We Know About School Leadership	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/three-syntheses-on-education-leadership.aspx	What We Know About School Leadership	Three reports explore 20 years of research about principals and provide new analyses on a range of topics<br>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Research Series	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/what-we-know-school-leadership-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	7/27/2022 4:00:00 AM
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

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