How Maryland Policymakers Are Working Together to Improve School Principal Quality. White Paper

This paper highlights the successful efforts of one state, Maryland, to strategically select and train its most promising future leaders in order to prepare them for the leadership responsibilities associated with leading schools that have increased expectations for all students. Under the leadership of the governor's office, and with support from the legislature and the State Board of Education, Maryland's Department of Education created a principal talent development program that annually prepares nearly 50 new leaders for its 24 public school districts. The program relies upon the existing talent in the state, including current and former principals, as well as some state resources, to connect promising principals with veteran principals through a structured learning and networking experience. The program helps to solve a decades-old challenge by building a pool of qualified candidates who are ready to lead schools. Through this project, Maryland has effectively constructed a pipeline for promising candidates out of experiences and support systems that most candidates need before they can become effective in their new roles.