Highly-Effective Principals

For many years now, researchers and school improvement advocates have largely focused on improving the quality of teachers as the main lever for increasing the quality of schools. Since students spend the most time with their teachers, these efforts made sense. However, recent research from the Wallace Foundation has found that the impact of principals on improving schools has been understated. Since principals are the people that recruit, develop, and support all of the teachers in a school building, as well as other important tasks like building a supportive school culture and climate, there is a strong case for increasing the effectiveness of our principals in order to improve the quality of our schools.

Researchers found that developing a principal from the 25th percentile of effectiveness to the 75th percentile of effectiveness increased learning in math and reading by 3 months for all students in a school. These gains in additional learning time are similar to the effects of developing a teacher in the same way. However, when you develop a principal to be more effective, as opposed to a teacher, you are affecting all students in the school, as opposed to just one classroom

Research done through The Wallace Foundation identified key principal actions and foundational skills that were linked to effective outcomes for students:

• Engaging in instructionally focused interactions with teachers,
• Building a productive climate,
• Facilitating collaboration and professional learning communities, and
• Managing personnel and resources strategically.

In 2023, the Alabama Legislature recognized the need for action and passed the School Principal Leadership and Mentoring Act, with the goal of improving the quality of principals in schools around the state. In the first year, the Act was funded at $30 million. These funds provide annual stipends for principals ($10,000, with up to an additional $5,000 for those working in low-performing or high-poverty schools) and assistant principals ($5,000, with up to an additional $2,500 for those working in low-performing or high-poverty schools). To receive the stipend, the administrator must complete the Alabama Principal Leadership Development System, which includes the following:

• Beginning 2023-2024, develop a comprehensive professional learning plan to be implemented in 2024-2025 school year, and each year after
• Complete five additional days of high-quality professional learning each year
• New Principals: Complete a two year principal mentoring program beginning in 2024-2025
• Participate in the new evaluation system for principals beginning in 2027-2028
• Complete the year-long principal leadership academy by 2029-2030

Principals are responsible for a wide range of factors that influence student achievement. Alabama should continue investing in ways to recruit, develop, and retain high-impact principals in order to create great schools for all kids.