Why Principals Matter: Exploring The Research On School Leadership. School Leadership Brief_18P429_digital_FINAL | Page 8

2.
Many Principals Do Not Feel
Well Prepared For The
Diverse Responsibilities Of
School Leadership.
National surveys show that principals
have not felt like their training prepared
them for leadership.
Many principals felt like they entered
leadership without the necessary tools to
succeed. A national survey of principals
found that 96 percent said their on-
the-job experiences trained them
better than their preparation program. 17
Another survey showed that two-thirds of
principals believed that their preparation
programs were “out-of-touch” with the
realities of school leadership. Surveyed
superintendents also agreed with these
7
principals; 41 percent reported principal
candidates were not well prepared for
the job and over two-thirds said principal
preparation programs needed to
improve. 18
These surveys suggest that successful
leadership programs need to consider the
diverse responsibilities of principalship
when designing their programs.
Early-career principals leave the job
at high rates, suggesting they are not
prepared for the realities of school
leadership.