Beyond Preparation: State Approaches to Early Career Principal Professional Development

• In Event: Evaluating and Developing Effective School Leaders

Abstract

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) reflected a recognition for increased state attention to principal preparation and ongoing professional development for sitting principals. Many states have implementing programming to support early career principals (ECPs), but little research has address the topic. In this study, we use publicly-available documents to map the landscape of U.S. state-sponsored policies and programs to support ECPs, and assess these policies and programs against current scholarship. Findings suggest that few states take direct responsibility for ECP induction, and state policies and programs appear to more traditional conceptions of the principal role. This study intends to provide guidance for states and districts as they continue to develop and refine approaches to supporting principals throughout their careers.

Authors

• Laura K. Rogers, University of Utah

• Bryan A. VanGronigen, University of Delaware