Principal Leadership and Student Success

As the national education agenda continues to require that all students meet educational standards, certain pressures are being placed on school leaders. A research synthesis on effective school leadership indicates that improving instruction and learning is a direct responsibility of the school principal. The No Child Left Behind legislation passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Bush requires states to implement standards-based assessments and provides punitive measures to those states and schools that do not show Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as evidenced by student performance. In some situations, the Arizona Department of Education has assumed control over school districts failing to make Adequate Yearly Progress. The federal legislation is in effect through 2008. Educational leaders are faced with a difficult task. As pressure from the federal and state government increases, so too does the demand from our communities to ensurethat students meet or exceed the state standards. The demand and pressure from the federal, state, and local governments has impacted educational leaders. Pressure on school leaders has directly influenced research in educational leadership.