In this qualitative case study of a district-led, school leader preparation program in Tennessee during the 2021-2022 school year, I sought to reveal district stakeholder perceptions using an open-ended questionnaire, on the design, possible benefits, and possible challenges of the district's Associate Principal Program. For this study,…

The author identifies 10 phases of the principal development pipeline, some of which are seldom acknowledged and many of which are inadequately addressed. The author argues that various stakeholder groups should collaborate to provide continuous professional development to future and current principals through each phase of the pipeline. Examples…

This paper examines the preparation of school principals in Malaysia, and the aspiration of the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025 to ensure high-performing school leaders in every school. It reports on the principal preparatory programme, the National Professional Qualification for Educational Leaders, which is mandatory to those who aspire…

This article describes a novel effort in New York City, the Learning Partners Program, which matches veteran principals with two or more newer ones. In 2014-15, the first full year of the effort, the city's Department of Education put 73 of the city's more than 1,800 schools into 23 groups of threes and one group of four. Every group comprised one…

Conflict management is among the skills necessary for the development of successful school leaders. Those in campus leadership positions are certain to face conflict situations on a regular basis. This study focused on four questions about conflict in the professional lives of campus administrators: (1) What is the frequency of conflict…

To meet the need for administrators from minority populations, the Philadelphia School District developed an administrator training program. The program developed a personnel pool of trainees including doctoral degree candidates and vice-principals working toward certification. Administrative internships were part of the training program. Fifty…

Through a collaborative effort, the New Teacher Center at the University of California Santa Cruz and the Association of California School Administrators are offering intensive, coaching-based induction support to first- and second-year administrators that is integral to their professional certification. This program rests on the commitment and…

A career development training program in Los Angeles, California, schools has three components: (1) preservice training for participants from the district staff, self-nominated or recruited through an affirmative action plan; (2) training for new administrators; and (3) training for experienced administrators. The programs are cooperative ventures…

This research reports the personal characteristics of middle-level principals, their professional and academic preparation, the nature of their jobs, their future plans, and their recommendations for the development of future middle-level principals. Implications for current middle-level principals are noted as are recommendations for the…

This paper documents a study that investigated the perceptions of assistant principals regarding their preparation for principalship. The primary contribution of the study is to provide answers to questions concerning the issues of principal shortages since assistant principalship serves as the training ground for principalship. Data for the study…

This analytical report draws together findings from multiple sources that reflect current admission processes used by principal-preparation programs and explores their implications for initial educational-leadership development. The sources are a web-based review of state regulations for school-leadership credentials, a review of selected…

This report defines six strategies that state and district leaders can employ to secure an ample supply of highly qualified school principals. The six strategies were drawn from research and direct experience in helping schools, universities, and state agencies rethink and redesign educational leadership programs. The six strategies are as…

This document is a practical guide for designing principal-development programs. The target audience includes individuals involved in the design and implementation of principal-preparation and development programs, particularly at the school-district level. Chapter 1, "The Call for New School Leaders and Leadership Development," expresses the need…

This report describes a study of the factors that contributed to decisions by women to abandon their careers as school leaders. The purpose of the study was to extend analysis of socialization factors, particularly when they persuade school leaders to reconsider their careers in education. The study followed 25 women who completed the masters of…

American public schools enroll some 9.5 million students at the middle-school level and approximately 6 million students with disabilities at the K-12 levels. This research digest briefly presents highlights from two reports of studies that examined what is known about principals who lead middle-school and disabled student populations and what…