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.

Learn About Our Strategy

A New Role Emerges for Principal Supervisors: Evidence from Six Districts in the Principal Supervisor Initiative	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/a-new-role-emerges-for-principal-supervisors.aspx	A New Role Emerges for Principal Supervisors: Evidence from Six Districts in the Principal Supervisor Initiative	Six school districts demonstrate the feasibility of substantially changing the role of the principal supervisor so it can focus more on principal support and less on operations.	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Report	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/A-New-Role-Emrges-for-Principal-Supervisors-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/A-New-Role-Emrges-for-Principal-Supervisors-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	7/10/2018 4:00:00 AM
A Briefing on Strengthening the School Leadership Pipeline and Connections to Federal Policy	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/strengthening-school-leadership-pipeline-and-connections-to-federal-policy.aspx	A Briefing on Strengthening the School Leadership Pipeline and Connections to Federal Policy	Senate education committee representatives heard evidence about the significance of effective school leadership and ways to cultivate it at a briefing by The Wallace Foundation May 11, 2018.	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Slide Presentation	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/Senate-briefing-slides-for-5-11-18-FINAL-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="A Briefing on Strengthening the School Leadership Pipeline and Connections to Federal Policy" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/Senate-briefing-slides-for-5-11-18-FINAL-a.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	5/24/2018 4:00:00 AM
Episode 6: Shoring Up Two Critical Roles, Assistant Principals and Principal Supervisors	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/Shoring-Up-Two-Critical-Roles-Assistant-Principals-and-Principal-Supervisors.aspx	Episode 6: Shoring Up Two Critical Roles, Assistant Principals and Principal Supervisors	In Prince George’s County, leaders explain how these two roles can help strengthen the principal pipeline	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Article	<img alt="" src="/News-and-Media/Videos-and-Presentations/PublishingImages/WAL_PODCAST_LOGO-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/WAL_PODCAST_LOGO-a.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	3/28/2018 4:00:00 AM
Episode 5: States Can Play a Role in Building Principal Pipelines	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/podcast-principal-pipelines-episode-5-States-Can-Play-a-Role-in-Building-Principal-Pipelines.aspx	Episode 5: States Can Play a Role in Building Principal Pipelines	This episode explores why Tennessee is placing a big bet on pipelines—and how it is working so far.	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Podcast	<img alt="" src="/News-and-Media/Videos-and-Presentations/PublishingImages/WAL_PODCAST_LOGO-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/WAL_PODCAST_LOGO-a.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	3/14/2018 4:00:00 AM
Episode 4: Mentors Support Novice Principals on the Job	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/episode-4-mentors-support-novice-principals-on-the-job.aspx	Episode 4: Mentors Support Novice Principals on the Job	<p>School and district leaders from Gwinnett County, Georgia, discuss the components of their principal-mentoring program. </p>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Podcast	<img alt="" src="/News-and-Media/Videos-and-Presentations/PublishingImages/WAL_PODCAST_LOGO-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/WAL_PODCAST_LOGO-a.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	2/28/2018 5:00:00 AM
Episode 3: Districts and Universities Work Together to Improve Preparation	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/podcast-principal-pipelines-episode-3-districts-and-universities-work-together-to-improve-preparation.aspx	Episode 3: Districts and Universities Work Together to Improve Preparation	<p>The Principal Pipeline explores how Chicago forged a critical partnership between districts and universities. </p>	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Podcast	<img alt="" src="/News-and-Media/Videos-and-Presentations/PublishingImages/WAL_PODCAST_LOGO-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/WAL_PODCAST_LOGO-a.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	2/14/2018 5:00:00 AM
Episode 2: Improving Job Standards and Hiring Pays Off	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/podcast-principal-pipelines-episode-2-improving-job-standards-and-hiring.aspx	Episode 2: Improving Job Standards and Hiring Pays Off	Hear how these two affordable components of the Principal Pipeline can produce benefits for districts and schools.	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Podcast	<img alt="" src="/News-and-Media/Videos-and-Presentations/PublishingImages/WAL_PODCAST_LOGO-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/WAL_PODCAST_LOGO-a.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	1/17/2018 5:00:00 AM
The Principal Pipeline Podcast: Practitioners Share Lessons from the Field	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/podcast-principal-pipeline.aspx	The Principal Pipeline Podcast: Practitioners Share Lessons from the Field	This six-episode series features principals, district and state leaders, and university officials who’ve developed strong principal pipelines.	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Podcast	<img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/Principal-Pipelines-podcast-series-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/News-and-Media/Videos-and-Presentations/PublishingImages/WAL_PODCAST_LOGO-a.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	1/17/2018 5:00:00 AM
Episode 1: Building the Pipeline	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/podcast-principal-pipelines-episode-1-building-the-pipeline.aspx	Episode 1: Building the Pipeline	The inaugural episode of The Principal Pipeline podcast explores how to attract and retain effective school leaders.	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Podcast	<img alt="" src="/News-and-Media/Videos-and-Presentations/PublishingImages/WAL_PODCAST_LOGO-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> <img alt="" src="/knowledge-center/PublishingImages/WAL_PODCAST_LOGO-a.png" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	1/17/2018 5:00:00 AM
Energizing State Agendas for Principal Leadership	https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Pages/Energizing-State-Agendas-for-Principal-Leadership.aspx	Energizing State Agendas for Principal Leadership	William & Mary professor Paul Manna discusses six policy levers to help improve school leadership and bolster principals.	54092405-3ed7-43af-891b-ab77fa4f2517	Video	<img alt="" src="/News-and-Media/Videos-and-Presentations/PublishingImages/State-Agendas-for-Principal-Leadership-video-b.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />	1/11/2018 5:00:00 AM

School Leadership

School Leadership Feature

Highlights From Our Work

Our Title Resources

Search or filter Our Resources

Search Entire Site

Search Our Knowledge Center