Ed. Secretary Announces $9.2 Mil for 14 School Leadership Grants (US)

August 5, 2010

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced the award of $9.2 million for 14 awards to improve the leadership and effectiveness of current and aspiring principals and assistant principals in high-need school districts. Grants will be used to develop and expand innovative programs to recruit, train, and provide professional development opportunities for principals.

"An effective principal serves as the catalyst for significant school improvement," Duncan said. "These grants will help school leaders hone the wide range of skills needed to be a strong principal who can inspire teachers and have a positive impact on instructional practices that lead to improved learning outcomes."

The five-year grants were awarded to six school districts, three non-profit organizations, and five universities in 12 states: California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Grantees will use funds for a variety of activities to promote effective leadership in high-need school districts, such as stipends to principals who mentor new principals, financial incentives to aspiring new principals, training specific to a charter school environment, use of school-based data to develop turnaround practices, and tracking student achievement data.

More than 950 principals and aspiring principals are expected to be served by these 14 grants. An additional $20 million is being awarded this year for 29 continuation grants that began in 2008 and 2009. Funded since 2002, the School Leadership program has helped to certify more than 1,260 principals and assistant principals, to place 633 principals and assistant principals, and provide professional development services to over 5,700 participants.