SREB Leadership Initiative

Wallace Foundation Grant: SREB Leadership Learning-centered Program

SREB is funded by the Wallace Foundation to continue the work of the SREB Improving School Leadership Initiative. The purpose of this initiative is to stimulate and support states in changing how school leaders are prepared for and supported in their work to improve school and classroom practices and student achievement. The initiative includes three main areas of work and the LEAD (Leadership for Educational Achievement in Districts) project.

• Benchmark and Research Reports
  SREB prepares benchmark and research reports to focus attention on the need for change, and to point the way to new policies, research-based practices and processes for addressing states' needs. These reports track the progress states are making toward the goal of every school having leadership that results in improved student performance.
   
• Leadership Curriculum Modules
  SREB has designed a set of research-based Leadership Curriculum Modules to fill the wide gaps between what principals must know and be able to do to improve student achievement, and what traditional leadership programs offered by universities and leadership academies prepare them to do. SREB's Leadership Curriculum Modules are designed to prepare principals, aspiring leaders and teacher leaders to aggressively improve curriculum, instruction and student achievement in their schools. The modules are based on critical success factors for principals and key practices for improving schools. They are used by university preparation programs, state leadership academies, schools and districts, and others to engage school leadership teams in solving real school problems.
   
• Assist State Redesign Initiatives
  The SREB Improving School Leadership Initiative provides intensive support to several states in order to demonstrate the leadership change process, put in place the capacity for statewide redesign and establish model programs that can help other universities understand how their programs and interactions with local school districts much change.

LEAD (Leadership for Educational Achievement in Districts):

SREB is working with 12 urban districts and their university partner(s) to redesign a school leadership preparation program that prepares current and future principals to lead urban schools. The LEAD initiative emphasizes the core functions of schooling - curriculum, instruction and student learning - and the application of research and field-based knowledge in order to design leadership programs around school improvement practice. The goals of this effort are

• to support districts in developing comprehensive approaches to attracting, preparing and placing a more able and diverse corps of superintendents, principals and other education leaders; and
• to improve the conditions that enable leaders to support the academic performance of all students.

For more information, e-mail Kathy O'Neill at kathy.oneill@sreb.org.