Effects of Principal Leadership on Student Achievement: A Hierarchical Linear Modeling Study Using PISA 2015 Data

• In Event: Park Central Roundtable Session 4
  In Roundtable Session: Framing and Comparing Leadership Internationally

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between principals’ leadership and student achievement. Based on the PISA 2015 data in the United States, a two-level hierarchical linear model with students nested within principals/schools was applied. The findings indicated (a) that principals’ rating of their own leadership was statistically negatively related to student achievement, (b) that among the four subscales of principal self-rated leadership, instructional leadership was statistically positively related to student achievement, while leadership for teacher development was negatively related to student achievement, and (c) that principal leadership’s effect on student achievement was moderated by school contextual variables. Discussions were provided.

Authors

• Huang Wu, Western Michigan University

• Xingyuan Gao, Western Michigan University

• Jianping Shen, Western Michigan University