Superintendents need specific, ongoing training beyond graduate level programs that lead to advanced degrees in educational administration in order to better address student achievement gains. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of one such program, the Superintendent Preparation Series (SUPES) Academy. SUPES Academy focuses specifically on the competencies and skills essential for school superintendent leadership. The research question involved understanding whether students from districts led by superintendents who complete the SUPES program perform better on the state-mandated assessments, Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) and Michigan Merit Examination (MME), than those from districts whose superintendents did not complete the training. The researcher analyzed and summarized pertinent data related to students' performance on the MEAP and MME assessments during school years 2008-2010 in order to draw conclusions about the impact of superintendent preparation programs on student achievement. The results indicated a statistical difference in that students from districts led by superintendents who completed the SUPES program performed better on state-mandated assessments than those from districts whose superintendents did not. Therefore, the results of this study provide evidence supporting the need for superintendent preparation programs like SUPES to raise student achievement scores. Implications for positive social change included encouraging requirements for superintendent training beyond their traditional degree program requirements that can result in improved student achievement. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]