The Changing Landscape of Principal Preparation - An Analysis of Statewide Longitudinal Program Component Survey Results

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by ahduag

This article analyzes comparative results from a statewide longitudinal program component survey for 16 principal preparation programs across Missouri over four academic years, 2008–2012. The authors describe the Higher Education Evaluation Committee (HEEC), a monthly statewide collaboration since 2005, and its purpose to improve program quality and positively influence K-12 student performance. Findings highlight a rapidly shifting preparation landscape, including doubled online offerings, a 260% rise in adjunct faculty alongside a 27% decrease in full-time faculty, and shorter time to degree completion as enrollment competition intensified.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time45 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Study Framework

Major Findings

Recommendations

The Changing Landscape of Principal Preparation: An Analysis of Statewide Longitudinal Program Component Survey Results Jennifer Friend University of Missouri-Kansas City Robert Watson Missouri State University This article examines comparative survey results for 16 principal preparation programs located in the Midwestern state of Missouri across a four-year time period from 2008 to 2012. The authors are founding members of a statewide Higher Education Evaluation Committee (HEEC), which has been meeting on a monthly basis since 2005, comprised of faculty representatives from all school leadership preparatory programs and Missouri Department of Education leaders. The mission of the HEEC is to improve all preparatory programs in order to positively impact K-12 student performance through the development of highly effective school and district leaders. This unique collaborative improvement effort resulted in a statewide initiative to administer a comprehensive program component survey to collect data from the 2007-08 and 2011-12 academic years to examine changes in preparation programs. The article explores the development of the HEEC, describes the multi-year processes for administration of the surveys, and shares recommendations to improve preparatory programs for educational leaders based upon the survey results. The dramatically changing landscape of principal preparation is apparent in the major findings: (1) online course offerings doubled in four years,(2) adjunct faculty increased 260% while full-time faculty decreased by 27%, and (3) the time to degree completion decreased as competition for student enrollment increased across the state. Introduction The current context for induction of new school leaders in the United States includes a variety of pathways such as graduate preparatory programs within higher education institutions, expanding alternative preparation and certification methods, and charter schools with no requirements for leaders’ licensure. The demand for reform in higher education in the United States, particularly with regard to leadership preparation programs, is a call to action (Hess & Kelly, 2005; Levine, 2005 ; Wallace Foundation, 2008) . In response to this call, colleges and universities strive to meet changing accreditation requirements at the state and national levels that include robust candidate and program assessment data to drive continuous improvement processes, while operating within the context of competition with one another for quality leadership candidates and budgetary constraints in a recession economy. Recent research studies support the critical importance of redesigning leadership preparation programs to support the development of effective educational leaders who have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to positively impact student learning outcomes through their practices (Braun, Gable, & Kite, 2011; Cosner, Tozer, & Smylie, 2012; Reames, 2010). Leithwood and Seashore Louis (2011) conducted a five-year study that examined the influence of school leaders on instructional quality and student learning, finding “that leadership is second only to classroom instruction as an influence on student learning”(p. 3). In addition to research, national leadership standards also instigate program redesign in many states, such as the revised Educational Leadership Policy Standards (ELPS), which prompted a wave of educational leadership program redesign across states whose accreditation and licensure procedures were based upon the previous Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Standards (NPBEA, 2008) . In the Midwestern state of Missouri, the changing landscape of the preparation of school and district leaders resulted in a statewide collaborative effort that began in 2005 and that continues into 2014. The Higher Education Evaluation Committee (HEEC) meets on a monthly basis and includes faculty representatives from each of the 17 institutions in the

FAQs

What is the main focus of the article?

The article examines how 16 principal preparation programs in Missouri changed over a four-year period using statewide longitudinal survey results.

What role does the HEEC play in the study?

The Higher Education Evaluation Committee coordinates the monthly statewide collaboration and administers a comprehensive program component survey to support continuous improvement.

What major changes are reported in principal preparation programs from 2008 to 2012?

Online course offerings doubled, adjunct faculty increased by 260% while full-time faculty decreased by 27%, and time to degree completion shortened as enrollment competition grew.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by ahduag