WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today introduced legislation to address the shortage of principals facing our nation’s schools, particularly in rural and urban areas where principal turnover rate can be as high as 20 percent per year. The National Principal Recruitment (NPR) Act would support the recruitment and training of new school administrators with the goal of increasing student achievement in the highest-need rural and urban public schools.

“An effective principal is crucial to the success of any school. This legislation will help train and support a new generation of principals to lead our schools and guide our students, especially in those areas where leadership is most needed. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation,” said Senator Clinton.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that nearly 40 percent of the 90,000 principals in this country are nearing retirement, and more than half the nation’s school districts are facing immediate administrator shortages. This shortage could have a significant impact on students, as studies have found a clear link between school leadership and student achievement. The difference between an average and above average principal can impact student achievement by as much as 20 percentage points.

The NPR Act seeks to address the growing principal shortage by establishing a corps of administrators who are well-prepared, supported, and effective in improving student achievement in high-need schools. The program would recruit administrators who possess personal leadership and management skills, knowledge of effective instruction, and who commit to serve in high-need schools for at least five years. They would complete a year-long principal residency program and receive support and mentoring to help them develop and maintain a data-driven, professional learning community.

As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP), Senator Clinton has long worked to ensure that our public schools have effective school leaders who can close the achievement gap and prepare our students to compete in the 21st Century. In 2007, Senator Clinton introduced the Improving the Leadership and Effectiveness of Administrators for Districts (I LEAD) Act to help create more effective principal certification programs. The National Teacher and Principal Recruitment Act was the first education bill Senator Clinton introduced in the Senate and was eventually signed into law as part of No Child Left Behind.

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WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today introduced legislation to address the shortage of principals facing our nation’s schools, particularly in rural and urban areas where principal turnover rate can be as high as 20 percent per year. The National Principal Recruitment (NPR) Act would support the recruitment and training of new school administrators with the goal of increasing student achievement in the highest-need rural and urban public schools.

“An effective principal is crucial to the success of any school. This legislation will help train and support a new generation of principals to lead our schools and guide our students, especially in those areas where leadership is most needed. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation,” said Senator Clinton.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that nearly 40 percent of the 90,000 principals in this country are nearing retirement, and more than half the nation’s school districts are facing immediate administrator shortages. This shortage could have a significant impact on students, as studies have found a clear link between school leadership and student achievement. The difference between an average and above average principal can impact student achievement by as much as 20 percentage points.

The NPR Act seeks to address the growing principal shortage by establishing a corps of administrators who are well-prepared, supported, and effective in improving student achievement in high-need schools. The program would recruit administrators who possess personal leadership and management skills, knowledge of effective instruction, and who commit to serve in high-need schools for at least five years. They would complete a year-long principal residency program and receive support and mentoring to help them develop and maintain a data-driven, professional learning community.

As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP), Senator Clinton has long worked to ensure that our public schools have effective school leaders who can close the achievement gap and prepare our students to compete in the 21st Century. In 2007, Senator Clinton introduced the Improving the Leadership and Effectiveness of Administrators for Districts (I LEAD) Act to help create more effective principal certification programs. The National Teacher and Principal Recruitment Act was the first education bill Senator Clinton introduced in the Senate and was eventually signed into law as part of No Child Left Behind.

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