Principals and Student Achievement: What the Research Says

Kathleen Cotton

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About This Book

What are the direct and indirect influences of principals on student achievement? How do successful principals motivate others? What kinds of relationships do they have with parents, students, and staff?

Principals and Student Achievement identifies 26 essential traits and behaviors of effective principals to show how they achieve success as instructional leaders. Based on a review of 81 key research articles from the last 20 years, this concise book examines how certain practices can affect student achievement, including:

• Communication and interaction
• Classroom observation and feedback to teachers
• Recognition of student and staff achievement
• Dedication to a safe and orderly school environment
• Support of professional development of staff
• Role modeling

The book also reviews differences in instructional leadership between elementary and secondary principals, male and female principals, principals in high- and low-socioeconomic-status schools, and more.

We all know that principals are important to student success, but few people have pinpointed exactly how they make a positive difference. At a time when principals are being asked to do more for school reform and accountability, Principals and Student Achievement provides a valuable resource for identifying what it takes to be an effective principal and, in turn, an effective school.

See the book's table of contents and read excerpts.

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About the Author

KATHLEEN COTTON was a Research Associate with the School Improvement Program of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) and the author or coauthor of more than 70 publications. From 1987 to 1996, she coordinated the development of the School Improvement Research Series, a collection of syntheses of educational research literature on topics of current interest and feature articles showcasing exemplary school programs from around the United States.

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