The Principal Factor in School Improvement Implications for

The Principal Factor in School Improvement: Implications for State and Local Districts Gene Bottoms May 5, 2011 — Atlanta, Georgia

Conference Overview Topic I: Can states and districts have great principals without a succession plan? Topic II: What can states, regions and districts do to develop great principals who can lead school improvement? Topic III: How can we develop effective principals through evaluation and support?

Questions for the Conference 1. Do you have to steal a good principal from a school that is working to find a top principal for a low-performing school? 2. Do you have at least two highly-qualified persons who could take the place of every principal position in the district, if they leave, retire or decide to move on? 3. Do you have a number of schools that are not functioning well, and are failing to receive the kind of leadership from the principal that can make the school a winning school?

Questions for the Conference 4. Do you identify persons in your district who already hold a master’s degree in school leadership that possess leadership traits and that understand good instruction to actually lead a school? 5. Do you have a plan for developing school leaders and building capacity for every principal in the district? 6. Do you have a model for maintaining continuity in your district, particularly in your successful schools? 7. Do you have a plan for breaking continuity in schools that are failing?

Addressing the Principal Factors Begins with? n States setting leadership standards anchored to what successful principals do to improve student achievement.

Addressing the Principal Factor Involves: n States developing policies regarding processes and criteria for identifying promising future leaders.

Addressing the Principal Factor Involves: n Principal preparation programs focusing on the role of the principal in leading learning that results in student academic success.

Addressing the Principal Factor Involves: n Principal preparation programs including substantive field-based experiences that prepare participants to lead school improvement.

Addressing the Principal Factor Involves: n Providing specialized services to develop highquality principals for high-needs schools customized around unique problems of local context.

Addressing the Principal Factor Involves: n Evaluating principals based on effective practices defined in state standards as well as progress on student outcomes.

State Leadership Standards Drive All Components of Principal Development Identify Future Leaders Prin. Prep. Programs Principal Licensure State Leadership Standards Principal Evaluation Prin. Prof Develop 2011 Leadership Forum