Support for Instructional Leadership

Based on survey feedback from its American School Leader Panel, a nationally representative sample of principals in small, medium, and large school districts, the RAND corporation investigated the prevalence and value of three types of on-the-job supports districts provide to principals: supervisory, mentoring, and professional development. The study found almost all principals reported receiving some kind of district-provided, on-the-job supports though less than a third reported receiving all three types of support concurrently, and that principals place a high value on supports relating to their instructional leader roles.