ASCD has released a new report titled Fulfilling the Promise of the Common Core State Standards: Moving from Adoption to Implementation to Sustainabilityilluminating activities educators and policymakers at all levels can undertake to successfully implement the Common Core State Standards across the nation, including "transform principals into instructional leaders."
Until now, principals have been the overlooked constituency as states have sought to gain acceptance of the standards from rank-and-file classroom teachers while simultaneously working with district-level leaders to create systemic supports and reforms aligned to the standards.
However, principals and related administrators hold the power to leverage the Common Core State Standards in schools: they are the linchpins in either delivering or facilitating the delivery of resources and supports to classroom teachers. One of the most pressing needs is to provide powerful resources and professional development to school building leaders.
The stakes have never been higher for principals as they deal with the transition to the Common Core State Standards and the push in many states for principal evaluation. A recent research report published by the Wallace Foundation (PDF) identified five main functions that effective principals perform well:
- Shaping a vision of academic success for all students.