AACTE to Survey Principal Preparation Programs
Principals’ leadership is a critical factor in schools’ success, and school leader preparation programs play a key role in facilitating that success. But what are the components of programs that effectively prepare emerging principals to serve as leaders of learning in 21st-century schools?
AACTE, in cooperation with a national foundation, is conducting a brief survey of its members to better understand the landscape of university-based principal preparation programs: the context in which they operate; the challenges they face; and the degree to which improvements are seen as important. A report is planned for early 2016 summarizing the findings from this survey as well as others under way.
The AACTE survey is currently being piloted with the deans, directors, and other leaders who attended the Association’s recent Leadership Academy in Cincinnati. Following their feedback, the finalized questionnaire will be sent in early fall to all member institutions that have a principal preparation program.
The survey’s questions will focus on topics such as the importance and impact of specific elements on the quality and effectiveness of principal preparation programs, the structure of clinical practice design, the use of reflective practice to improve programs, the development of partnerships as a facilitative component of programs, the use of specific programmatic course work, and barriers to program implementation.
Understanding principal preparation programs and their benchmarks for quality are a critical aspect of our pipeline work at AACTE. We look forward to a high response rate, as the profession has declared this work a high priority. We see this survey as a launch point for future opportunities to advance the renewal of principal preparation practice across the nation.
Please stay tuned for this opportunity to share your professional knowledge and experience around quality principal preparation!
Tags: AACTE partner organizations, clinical preparation, data, principal preparation, research, school-university partnerships
