This guide aims to present district instructional leaders and staff with a core set of criteria for what high-quality professional development entails. What makes this particular document different and useful is the focus on practical issues of district-level implementation in multiple teaching and learning environments. This is a guide designed…

In the United States, student social-emotional well-being has become a priority because of concerning mental health and well-being outcomes for adolescent youth. High schools and school districts have responded by expanding mental health and social-emotional supports. However, there is little research to understand the ways in which educational…

The reauthorization of the U.S. Elementary and Secondary Education Act, referred to as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), emphasizes evidence-based initiatives while providing new flexibilities to states and districts with regard to the use of federal funds, including funds to promote effective school leadership. In response, state and…

New Leaders is a nonprofit organization with a mission to ensure high academic achievement for all students by developing outstanding school leaders to serve in urban schools. Its premise is that a combination of preparation and improved working conditions for principals, especially greater autonomy, would lead to improved student outcomes. Its…

New Leaders is dedicated to promoting student achievement by developing outstanding school leaders to serve in urban schools. RAND Corporation researchers conducted a formative and summative external evaluation of the New Leaders program, its theory of action, and its implementation from 2006 through 2013. This document presents technical…

To stem the tide of students dropping out, many schools and districts are turning to early warning systems (EWS) that signal whether a student is at risk of not graduating from high school. While some research exists about establishing these systems, there is little information about the actual implementation strategies that are being used across…

In 2007, the Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) received funding from the U.S. Department of Education's Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) program to implement the Pittsburgh Urban Leadership System for Excellence (PULSE), a set of reforms designed to improve the quality of school leadership throughout the district. A major component of PULSE is the…

This book presents case studies of schools' journeys towards effective CPD practice as part of a TDA national project. It tells the story of the goals set and achieved, and the challenges and successes along the way. Each case study makes specific reference to the nine factors or approaches to CPD identified in the book as underpinning effective…

Focuses on the potential role of the media specialist in the delivery of professional development. The role of the school principal is described, and it is suggested that the media specialist can be a valuable source of assistance with instructional leadership responsibilities. The team concept and various approaches to instructional leadership…

This book was written to address the new standards for the preparation and development of school principals, created jointly by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Interstate School Leader Licensure Consortium (ISLLC). These standards, known as the Educational Leadership Constituent Council standards,…

This book offers principals hands-on, practical advice on how to develop and use the principal portfolio to improve their performance and assist in transforming their schools. Chapter 1 describes the concept of the principal portfolio and why it is needed. Chapter 2 provides an overview of what should be included in the principal portfolio.…

A shortage of qualified administrators has sparked a boom in principal-preparation programs. Some states and school districts have developed innovative principal-training programs that typically consist of classroom work; a full-time internship; and a network that allows program graduates to share information with colleagues and get feedback from…

The fourth of six volumes in the "Elementary Principal Series," this booklet offers new principals a set of ideas, procedures, and examples associated with effective teacher supervision. The principal-teacher supervisory relationship has changed dramatically over recent years. The principal is no longer an inspector, but a colleague…

Outlines the special summer humanities institutes for secondary school principals that began at three universities in 1984 and were funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. (MD)

The role of the school principal in a community of learners is discussed. A "community of learners" refers to a group of individuals with common interests who share ideals and learn from each other. The principal must work with teachers, providing support and receiving support in helping students achieve optimal results. A community of learners…