Why Principals Matter: Exploring The Research On School Leadership. School Leadership Brief_18P429_digital_FINAL | Page 3

HIGHLIGHTS
improve student achievement,
the current state of principal
preparation, where principals are
hired and placed, and promising
practices that some principal
preparation programs are
incorporating to better prepare
future school leaders.
1. Strong principal leadership is
instrumental to improving and
maintaining effective schools.
2. Many principals do not feel
well prepared for the diverse
responsibilities of school
leadership.
3. Inexperienced principals often
are placed in Tennessee’s
highest-need schools.
4. High-quality principal
preparation programs use
research-based strategies
for candidate selection and
program design to ensure
candidates are ready to make
meaningful improvements in
student achievement.
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