Gallup research shows that “the single greatest and most cost effective lever to improvement of K-12 education in
America is to build a pipeline of transformational future principals.” Further research shows that principals account
for approximately 25 percent of the school’s impact on student learning.38 Principals play a key role in retaining top
performing teachers, creating productive school cultures, and fostering working conditions that encourage effective
teachers to stay in the classroom.39
Principal Preparation
Like teacher preparation, it is imperative that principal
preparation programs in Tennessee produce effective
graduates who have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to
lead schools across our state. In Tennessee, state policy
currently stipulates that all preparation programs should
undergo a thorough, regular, and meaningful program
approval process.
Topic Timeline:
Over the past few years, Tennessee has taken important
steps to ensure that principal preparation programs are
preparing graduates who are able to lead schools across
Tennessee. These are key events:
• 2007-08: Tennessee convened a group called the
“Leadership Redesign Commission.” The development
of the Tennessee Learning Centered Leadership policy
was the result of the recommendations provided by
this group appointed by the SBE and THEC.40
• December 2008: The SBE passed the Learning
Centered Leadership Policy.41 This policy instituted
new standards for principals, called the Tennessee
Instructional Leadership Standards (TILS), which “align
[the] selection, preparation, licensure, evaluation, and
professional development” of school principals.42 This
update of Tennessee’s school leadership policies
translated into the redesign of the admissions
processes and curriculum of principal preparation
programs, the relationship between preparation
programs and local school districts, licensure systems
for administrators, the principal evaluation system,
and professional development for administrators.43
• November 2011: The Learning Centered Leadership
Policy was revised and the principal preparation
program approval section was changed. The revised
policy outlines that organizations are eligible to offer
preparation programs if they meet certain requirements:
›› Programs that have been approved by the SBE for
teacher preparation
›› Education-related organizations in partnership with
Tennessee LEAs that meet certain conditions
›› Tennessee LEAs in partnerships with out-of-state
institutions of higher education.44
• 2015: Public Chapter 233 states the SBE shall not
deny principal licensure based solely on the applicant
completing a leadership preparation program outside
Tennessee.
School leaders play a critical role in establishing school
culture, selecting and developing teachers, and improving
student achievement. Moving forward, it is critical that
Tennessee place priority on principal preparation in order
to ensure teachers receive the support they need to
improve student achievement.
Principal Evaluation
Acknowledging the research and in response to the
changing nature of schools, Tennessee adopted a revised
statewide evaluation system for principals in the 2011-12
school year.45 In Tennessee, principal evaluation combines
self-reflection, peer and/or supervisor observation, input of
school staff, and student data to create a more complete
picture of an administrator’s performance.
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