Educational administrator preparation programs have received criticism for inadequate program quality. Despite these criticisms, there are a number of programs and features of programs that are both innovative and exceptional. This article reviews standards of practice and examples of strong preparation programs for school and district administrators. Common to all of the programs is a clear vision that drives programmatic decisions and provides students with opportunities to connect to the knowledge base through carefully designed field experiences integrated into the academic program.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Barnett, B. G. , Basom, M., Yerkes, D., & Norris, C. (2000). Cohorts in educational leadership programs: Benefits, difficulties, and the potential for developing leaders. Educational Administration Quarterly, 36, 255-282.
2.
Bridges, E. , & Hallinger, P. (1993). Problem-based learning in medical and managerial education. In P. Hallinger, K. Leithwood, & J. Murphy (Eds.), Cognitive perspectives on educational leadership (pp. 253-267). New York: Teachers College Press.
3.
Cambron-McCabe, N. , & Foster, W. (1994). A paradigm shift: Implications for the preparation of school leaders. In T. A. Mulkeen, N. Cambron-McCabe, & B. J. Anderson (Eds.), Democratic leadership: The changing context of administrative preparation (pp. 49-60). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
4.
Council of Chief State School Officers. (2001). The Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium. Retrieved February 6, 2002, from http://www.ccsso.org/isllc.html
5.
Donmoyer, R. (1999). The continuing quest for a knowledge base: 1976-1998. In J. Murphy & K. Seashore-Lewis (Eds.), Handbook of research in educational administration (pp. 25-43). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
6.
Donmoyer, R. , Imber, J., & Scheurich, J. J. (Eds.). (1995). The knowledge base in educational administration: Multiple perspectives. Albany: State University of New York Press.
7.
Educational Research Service . (1998). Is there a shortage of qualified candidates for openings in the principalship? An exploratory study. Arlington, VA: Author.
8.
Educational Testing Service. (2002). State-by-state requirements. Retrieved February 12, 2002, from http://www.ets.org/sls/slsstate.html
9.
Furtwengler, W. , & Furtwengler, C. (1998). Performance assessment in the preparation of educational administrators: A journey. Journal of School Leadership, 8, 65-85.
10.
Fusarelli, L. D. , & Smith, L. (1999). Improving urban schools VIA leadership: Preparing administrators for the new millennium. Journal of School Leadership, 9, 534-551.
11.
Hallinger, P. , Leithwood, K., & Murphy, J. (Eds.). (1993). Cognitive perspectives on educational leadership. New York: Teachers College Press.
12.
Hart, A. W. , & Pounder, D. G. (1999). Reinventing preparation programs: A decade of activity. In J. Murphy & P. B. Forsyth (Eds.), Educational administration: Adecade of reform. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
13.
Institute for Education Leadership . (2001). Leadership for student learning: Restructuring school district leadership. School leadership for the 21st century initiative (Report ofthe task force on school district leadership). Washington, DC: Author.
14.
Kelley, C. , & Peterson, K. (2000). The work of principals and their preparation: Addressing critical needs for the 21st century. Paper prepared for the National Center on Education and the Economy, Washington, DC.
15.
Leithwood, K. , & Duke, D. L. (1997). Defining effective leadership for Connecticut’s schools. Hartford: Connecticut Department of Education.
16.
McCarthy, M. M. (1999). The evolution of educational leadership preparation programs. In J. Murphy & K. Seashore-Lewis (Eds.), Handbook of research on educational administration (pp. 119-139). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
17.
Milstein, M. M. (1993). Changing the way we prepare educational leaders: The Danforth experience. Newbury Park, CA: Corwin Press.
18.
Mulkeen, T. A. , Cambron-McCabe, N., & Anderson, B. J. (Eds.). (1994). Democratic leadership: The changing context of administrative preparation. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
19.
Murphy, J. , & Forsyth, P. B. (1999). Educational administration: Adecade of reform. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
20.
Muse, I. , & Thomas, G. (1991). The rural principal: Select the best. Journal of Rural and Small Schools, 4(3), 32-37.
21.
National Association of Elementary School Principals . (1997). Elementary and middle schools: Proficiencies for principals (3rd ed.). Alexandria, VA: Author.
22.
National Policy Board for Educational Administration. (2002). Standards for advanced programs in educational leadership for principals, superintendents, curriculum directors, and supervisors. Retrieved February 8, 2002, from http://www.npbea.org/ELCC/ELCC% 20Standards%20_1-02_.pdf
23.
Peterson, K. D. , & Finn, C. E. (1985). Principals, superintendents, and the administrator’s art. The Public Interest, 79, 42-62.
24.
Scribner, J. P. , & Donaldson, J. F. (2001). The dynamics of group learning in a cohort: From nonlearning to transformative learning. Educational Administration Quarterly, 37, 605-636.
25.
Shakeshaft, C. (1999). A decade half full or decade half empty: Thoughts from a tired reformer. In J. Murphy & P. B. Forsythe (Eds.), Educational administration: Adecade of reform. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
26.
Teitel, L. (1997). Understanding and harnessing the power of the cohort model in preparing educational leaders. Peabody Journal of Education, 72(2), 66-85.
27.
Van Meter, E. (1999). The persistent saga: Changing instruction and curriculum to better prepare school leaders. In J. Murphy & P. B. Forsyth (Eds.), Educational administration: Adecade of reform (pp. 152-169). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
