What focus should a principal prioritize to improve student performance in core subjects?

Prioritizing high-leverage instructional leadership activities is critical for a principal aiming to improve student performance in core subjects. These activities include actions that directly enhance teaching effectiveness and student learning outcomes. This focus allows principals to allocate their time and resources toward practices that have been shown to yield significant improvements in educational attainment.

For instance, by concentrating on enhancing instructional practices, a principal can provide targeted professional development for teachers, facilitate collaborative planning sessions, and promote the use of data-driven decision-making. This approach helps to create a cohesive learning environment where high-quality instruction is the centerpiece, ultimately leading to better student engagement and understanding of core academic subjects.

In contrast, although implementing new extracurricular programs and providing additional administrative support can be beneficial in certain contexts, they do not directly address the immediate needs factors that influence core academic performance. While these elements can enhance the overall school climate or assist with operational efficiency, they are not as directly linked to improving instructional quality and student outcomes in critical subjects. Similarly, establishing a mentorship program, while supportive of teacher development, does not specifically target the high-leverage actions that are most effective in raising student performance in core academics.