The purpose of this causal-comparative quantitative study is to examine the Maryland principals' role to influence the academic success of secondary ELLs. This study was conducted to determine if the principals' background knowledge, practices, and beliefs demonstrate a relationship as measured by a high school graduation gap between ELLs and all…

A principal's major role is that of an instructional leader, which, according to research, if done in isolation inhibits his or her effectiveness. Current literature reveals a paucity of research that examines how high school principals balance the demands and constraints of their jobs, while cultivating instructional leadership among their staff.…

The term "school climate" has been around for more than a hundred years to explore the idea of school environmental or contextual factors that might have an impact on student learning and academic success. During the past three decades there has been growing research to support the importance of a positive school climate in promoting…

This report describes how five states -- Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, Tennessee and Texas -- made exceptional progress in student achievement during the first decade of the 21st century. State leaders in these states all realized early in the decade that they had a problem they wanted to address. They established a "plan" at the state…