Greetings!
A few weeks ago the Wallace Foundation released a report
from researchers at the University of Minnesota and the University of Toronto
about the effects of school leadership on student achievement.
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"Learning from Leadership"
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 In the introduction to the report, the authors write,
"In developing
a starting point for this six-year study, we claimed, based on a preliminary
review of research,that leadership is second
only to classroom instruction as an influence on student learning, After six
additional years of research, we are even more confident about this claim. To
date we have not found a single case of a school improving its student
achievement record in the absence of talented leadership."
Among the report's key findings: Student
achievement is higher in schools where principals share leadership with teachers and the community;
principals play a key role in encouraging others to join. Higher-performing
schools generally ask for more
input and engagement from a wider variety of stakeholders. District
support for shared leadership fosters the development of professional communities. Where teachers feel
attached to a professional community, they are more likely to use
instructional practices that are linked to improved student learning. In
districts where levels of student learning are high, district leaders are
more likely to emphasize goals and
initiatives that reach beyond minimum state expectations for student
performance.
Major challenges to effective school leadership include: The
stark lack of district support for principals' professional
development and a lack of regular contact between most principals and
their district office. District leadership also needs to increase support
for principals to use data-driven decision making. The
direct negative effect of principal
turnover on student achievement due to disruptions in cooperation and
shared leadership with teachers A lack
of real and sustained leadership
directed to improve instruction in high schools The absence of comprehensive approaches
to education reform in most states
How might this research be put into practice in your local
school district? Have you had experiences with effective school and district
leaders? What did those leaders do to create a positive culture for learning?
Join the conversation on ChalkBloggers.
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