Providing an in-depth look at the processes, pitfalls, and successes that can emerge from major education reform efforts at the state level, this volume covers the full policy change cycle in the development and transformation of the Illinois principal preparation program. Offering perspectives from the major stakeholder groups involved in transforming Illinois principal preparation--school districts, universities, state education agencies, teachers unions, and professional associations--this book documents the three district policy stages: policy formation, implementation, and improvement. As a national award-winning leader in principal preparation policy and practice, Illinois serves as a model for effective policy reform. Grounded in a strong theoretical framework, this volume provides candid observations and lessons learned for researchers, scholars, and policymakers. Following an introduction, contents include: (1) Setting the Stage for the State Policy Change Process Involving Principal Preparation in Illinois: The What and How (Alicia Haller, Erika Hunt, and Debra Baron); (2) Applying the Advocacy Coalition Framework to the Policy Change Process in Illinois (Alicia Haller, Erika Hunt, and Debra Baron); (3) Policy Transfer from Local to Statewide: Scaling Evidence-Based Principal Preparation Practices in Illinois (Steve Tozer and Diane Rutledge); (4) The Role of Policy Entrepreneurs: What Policy Organizations Bring to State Education Reform (Lynne Haeffele); (5) The Role of Policy Networks to Support Policy Diffusion Through Implementation: A Multi-Case Study of Four Universities Working Together (Lisa Hood, Erika Hunt, Alicia Haller, and Deb Baron); (6) Modeling Innovation into Principal Preparation: The Illinois Partnerships for Rigorous Training (IL-PART) Project (North Central College faculty); (7) Monitoring Implementation: Results of Statewide Study on Implementation (Brad White); and (8) Developing Systems for Continuous Improvement for Principal Preparation Programs (Kristine Servais and Joe Pacha).