This is the fifth report from an evaluation of the Principal Pipeline Initiative (PPI), in which six large urban school districts have received support for strengthening novice principals' capabilities through specific strategies. Data for the evaluation were collected from late 2011 through spring 2015, using interviews with district administrators, surveys and focus groups of novice principals, and reviews of district documents. Details about study methods appear in the body of this report. This culminating report summarizes findings about implementation of the four PPI components across the six districts, as of spring 2015 when all components were expected to be up and running. The report details the implementation approaches, accomplishments, and challenges of participating districts; identifies factors that helped or impeded their progress; highlights lessons learned; and presents implications for policymakers and other districts. An evaluation report about the effects of the PPI on student achievement is scheduled for publication in 2018. This study of the initiative's implementation was designed to draw lessons about the process and early results of the work done in districts with varying histories in different states and regions. Intended audiences for the report include other school districts that might embark on similar approaches and policymakers who might support such efforts. The following are appended: (1) Survey Administration, Weighting, and Analyses; and (2) An Exploratory Comparative Analysis. [For Volume 1 in this series, see ED555867; for Volume 2, see ED555868; for Volume 3, see ED555869; and for Volume 4, see ED570471.]
Authors
Turnbull, Brenda J., Anderson, Leslie M., Riley, Derek L., MacFarlane, Jaclyn R., Aladjem, Daniel K.
- Authorizing Institution
- ['Policy Studies Associates, Inc.', 'RAND Education']
- Education Level
- Elementary Secondary Education
- Location
- ['Colorado (Denver)', 'Florida', 'Georgia', 'Maryland', 'New York (New York)', 'North Carolina (Charlotte)']
- Peer Reviewed
- F
- Publication Type
- Reports - Research
- Published in
- United States of America
- Sponsor
- Wallace Foundation
Table of Contents
- The Principal Pipeline Initiative in Action 1
- OLICY TUDIES SSOCIATES NC 1
- The Principal Pipeline Initiative in Action 3
- OLICY TUDIES SSOCIATES NC 3
- Preface 4
- Contents 5
- Exhibits 6
- Executive Summary 7
- 1. Introduction 17
- Background Intent and Design of the Principal Pipeline Initiative 19
- Evaluation Methods and Reporting 21
- 2. Principal Standards and Competencies Living Documents in Use 25
- The Problem Facing Districts Initially Standards Werent Clear and Werent Used 25
- Strategies Putting an Early Version of Standards to Work and Revising the Standards 26
- Accomplishments Challenges and Lessons 27
- Summary 29
- 3. Principal Preparation Investment for the Long Term 31
- The Problem Facing Districts Initially Preparation Was Largely Outside Their Control 31
- Strategies Starting Programs Spotting Talent and Bolstering On-the-Job Learning 32
- Accomplishments Challenges and Lessons 35
- Summary 39
- 4. Principal Hiring and Placement Quick Wins 41
- The Problem Facing Districts Initially Hiring Was a Pain Point 41
- Strategies Using Data in Succession Planning and Multi-Stage Candidate Selection 42
- Accomplishments Challenges and Lessons 45
- Summary 51
- 5. Evaluation and Support Help for Novices 53
- The Problem Facing Districts Initially Some Novices Were Struggling 53
- Strategies Creating Standards-Based Evaluation and Systems of Support 55
- Accomplishments Challenges and Lessons 57
- Summary 63
- 6. The Assistant Principalship Dilemmas of the Position 65
- An Unsolved Problem How to Position the Role in a Pipeline 65
- Strategies Trying to Adapt Pipeline Components for Assistant Principals 66
- Accomplishments Challenges and Lessons 68
- Summary 70
- 7. Conclusions and Implications 71
- Results of the Initiative 71
- What Helped the Districts Make Progress 75
- Persistent Challenges 76
- Implications for Districts 76
- Implications for Policy 77
- References 79
- Appendix A Survey Administration Weighting and Analyses 81
- Survey Administration and Response Rates 81
- Survey Weighting by District 81
- Survey Analyses 83
- Appendix B An Exploratory Comparative Analysis 85
