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Principals & Principal Supervision

**Grissom, J. A., Egalite, A. J., & Lindsay, C. A. (2021). How principals affect students and schools: A Systematic synthesis of two decades of research. The Wallace Foundation.

This article both confirms and updates the body of research that suggests principals are the second most influential factor in student success after teachers. The authors’ findings suggest that the most effective principals have skills and behaviors that allow them to put instructional leadership at the center of their roles. This piece will supplement our discussion of the critical role Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) principals play in efforts to support high-quality instruction.

For the purposes of our meeting, please read the executive summary on pages xi–xviii. The full report can be found at https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Documents/How-Principals-Affect-Students-and-Schools.pdf.

O'Meara, K. & Romant, T. (2022, June 22). Supporting principals [Commentary]. Policy Analysis for California Education. https://edpolicyinca.org/newsroom/supporting-principals.

This piece frankly discusses the challenges principals are currently experiencing and what supports they need do their work effectively. In addition to needing wraparound supports for their students and structures that encourage collaboration across sites, the authors state that principals need help shifting back to an instructional (rather than managerial or operational) focus. During Session II, we will hear directly from SCUSD principals speaking to similar themes.

Goldring, E. B., Grissom, J. A., Rubin, M., Rogers, L. K., Neel, M., & Clark, M. A. (2018). A new role emerges for principal supervisors: Evidence from six districts in the principal supervisor initiative. The Wallace Foundation.

After supporting a multi-year effort in redesigning the role of the principal supervisor, the Wallace Foundation released several reports documenting the process and lessons learned from the six participating districts. This report focuses on the process of rewriting the job description of the principal supervisor, implementing those changes, and understanding district leaders’ and principals’ reactions to those changes. The full article offers many insights for SCUSD as they embark on a similar journey.

For the purposes of our meeting, please read the executive summary on pages xi–xv. The full report can be found at https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Documents/A-New-Role-Emerges-for-Principal-Supervisors.pdf.

**This document is a priority reading.