Educational Leadership Preparation Program Features and Graduates’ Assessment of Program Quality

Abstract

Leadership preparation is essential in developing critical skills of effective school leaders. Educational leadership preparation programs vary greatly in terms of program features, it is important to identify which specific elements are likely associated with program quality. Using multiple years of Initiative for Systemic Program Improvement through Research in Educational Leadership (INSPIRE) data, this study analyzes the relationships between program features and graduates’ assessments of overall program quality. Our main finding is that multiple program features matter in quality preparation, including cohort model, face-to-face course delivery, field-based assessment, and strong district partnerships. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.