Report Links School Leadership to Improved Student Learning

Learning From Leadership: Investigating the Links to Improved Student Learning, a recently released report, considered to be the largest in-depth study of school leadership to date, demonstrated that education leadership has a strong impact on student achievement, as measured by student test scores.

The study, commissioned by the Wallace Foundation and carried out by the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (University of Minnesota) and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (University of Toronto), showed that leadership makes its mark largely by strengthening a school’s “professional community” – an environment where teachers work together to improve classroom instruction.

It also found that rapid turnover of principals reduces student achievement. In addition, the study showed that although the principal remains the central source of leadership in schools, the highest performing schools operate by a “collective leadership” that involves many interested players, including parents and teachers, in decision-making.

To view the complete report, visit:
Wallace Foundation: Learning From Leadership: Investigating the Links to Improved Student Learning (July 2010)