The Current Principal Preparation Program Landscape: Offerings, Geography, and Change

• In Event: Assessing the Landscape of Principal Preparation and Practice

Abstract

This study provides a landscape for the field of all university-based principal preparation programs (PPPs) in 2024, their geographic locations, and delivery models as well as how this landscape has changed in the wake of the pandemic. The original data collection that this project necessitated revealed several dramatic changes in PPP composition and modalities. Most notably, 73% of PPPs in 2024 offer fully online programming versus 40% in 2019. Meanwhile, only 12% currently provide face-to-face delivered pathways to the principalship. The study highlights the urgent need for research on online PPP quality and its impact. This updated landscape and original dataset provide the field and other researchers a resource for further understanding and improving principal preparation in the evolving educational environment.

Authors

• Frank Perrone, Indiana University-Bloomington

• Darcy E. Furlong, Indiana University

• Sajjid Budhwani, University of British Columbia

• Erin Anderson, University of Denver