Principal Data and Analytics

In order to both make informed investments and evaluate our past impact, The Fund has developed increasingly comprehensive data and information around principal quality in Chicago.  These efforts included a thorough analysis of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) principal preparation and placement process, conducted by The Boston Consulting Group and additional in-depth interviews and focus groups with CPS principals. In addition, The Fund has begun conducting a series of annual surveys of both exiting principals and sitting CPS principals, at both district-operated and charter schools. Findings from the 2014 survey were published in an initial report, titled School Leadership in Chicago: A Baseline Report. Findings from the 2015 survey were unveiled at a City Club of Chicago event in November 2015, and they were published in our 2015 School Leadership Report, titled Chicago’s Fight to Keep Top Principals. 

Impact:

• Development of a principal quality database, identifying principal tenure, school growth and other relevant data
• More than 30 CPS principals participated in focus groups and interviews
• Initial report on principal quality in Chicago, based on responses from over 300 principals
• Second annual report on principal quality in Chicago, based on responses from 435 principals