What We Know about Successful School Leadership

Amidst the seeming certainty that leadership matters, there is much that we do not yet understand about effective educational leadership. However, the knowledge base about leadership is constantly growing. In this brief, we present a summary of key, well-documented understandings about leadership at the school level. This knowledge can be used with confidence to guide leadership practice, policy, and research. It can help address concerns about school leaders’ preparation and performance. It also can provide a good starting point for dialogue with diverse audiences about the future of educational leadership.