Our Approach
The Fund improves Chicago’s public schools by investing in the talented, innovative leaders who run them. We partner with Chicago Public Schools, the City of Chicago, the local philanthropic community and school leaders to build and sustain a culture of strong leadership.
WHY PRINCIPALS?
Students in schools with strong leaders learn more.
Researchers estimate that students in a school with an effective principal learn nearly three months more in reading and math than their peers in schools without strong school leadership. More than that, principal leadership accounts for an estimated 25 percent of the total school influence on a child’s academic performance. Research also tells us that elementary schools with strong leaders are seven times more likely to improve in math and nearly four times more likely to improve in reading.
A recent study of school leaders’ impact in Chicago showed that a strong middle-grade principal can improve student performance and attendance in high school and even have positive effects on students’ future college enrollment and persistence.
Chicago believes in the power of principal leadership.
Recognizing the importance of school leadership, Chicago has become a pioneer in public education. Principals here have more control over budget, curriculum, and staffing decisions than many of their peers. These conditions allow Chicago’s principals to collaborate with their local communities in ways that aren’t possible in most other cities. For almost 30 years, Chicago’s principals have partnered with their Local School Councils to make decisions that directly benefit the students they serve.
Increased principal autonomy, along with other innovations in Chicago’s public schools, accelerates student learning. Between 2009 and 2014, Chicago students in third through eighth grades improved their standardized test scores much more than the average student in the U.S., according to Stanford researchers. A more recent nationwide analysis shows especially promising gains among the city’s students.
Data Collection and Analysis
We conduct principal, assistant principal, and Local School Council surveys and regularly share our findings with our partners and the public.
Policy Work
We work with key stakeholders in the city and beyond to ensure that the policies affecting school leadership in Chicago allow principals to have the autonomy, accountability, and resources to serve their communities effectively.
