AED is pleased to announce that it is one of twenty-two recipients of this prestigious USDOE program that provides grants to support the development, enhancement, or expansion of innovative programs to recruit, train, and mentor principals (including assistant principals) for high-need LEAs. To read more about this USDOE grant, visit the website for this grant at the ed.gov School Leadership Program web page

The Academy for Educational Development Middle School Leadership Program (AED MSLP) is designed to assist low-performing middle schools in the Bronx through the development of innovative programs to develop, train, and coach principals (including assistant principals) to serve in high-need urban middle schools. The Academy for Educational Development’s (AED) program of leadership development is aligned with and supportive of the New York City Department of Education’s Children First Initiative and will assist the department in its effort to ensure that every New York City public school is led by a leader with the skills, knowledge, and behaviors to continuously improve student learning.

MSLP will address the critical need of improving Bronx middle schools by creating an aligned and interconnected program that will provide aspiring leaders, assistant principal, and principals with a strong foundation in adolescent development anchored by the five New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) School Leadership Competencies. Through the MSLP, we will implement the following:

• Recruitment and Training for Future Principals: We will create the AED Leadership Fellows Program, which will prepare experienced middle school assistant principals to be excellent principals for high-need urban middle schools. AED Leadership Fellows will receive training to ensure that they are grounded in the principles of Middle Start (AED’s research-based comprehensive middle-grades reform initiative) as well as in all five of the NYCDOE School Leadership Competencies.

• Professional Development for Current and New Principals: We will offer a comprehensive two-year program of support for participating middle school principals, including a Middle Start Study Institute, three semester-long institutes designed to support the five competencies, an annual leadership development institute with the Center for Creative Leadership, and an opportunity to be trained as a coach for new principals in the program. Assistant principals in participating middle schools will also participate in a two year Middle Start Study Institute and have the opportunity to attend two skill-development institutes around the areas of the five competencies each year.

Described below are the long-term goals and intended outcomes for the proposed program:

Goal 1: To recruit highly qualified experienced assistant principals to prepare for principalships in high-need urban middle schools.

• Outcome 1.1: A pool of approximately 50 highly trained assistant principals skilled in instructional and managerial leadership and knowledgeable about the principles of adolescent development will be prepared for placement in principal positions in high-need urban middle schools.

Goal 2: To strengthen the abilities of principals and assistant principals to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of students in high-need urban middle schools.

• Outcome 2.1: A cadre of accomplished principals will have developed a full repertoire of coaching and facilitation skills to support their newly placed peers in promoting student outcomes and school success.
• Outcome 2.2: Participating principals and assistant principals will demonstrate gains in their knowledge and skills as a result of participation in ongoing, sustained professional development aligned with the NYCDOE School Leadership Competencies.
• Outcome 2.3: Participating school principals and assistant principals will demonstrate increased skills needed to address the academic, social, and emotional needs of students in high-need urban middle schools.

Goal 3: To retain highly qualified leaders in high-need urban middle schools.

• Outcome 3.1: Decreased rate of principal turnover in high-need urban middle schools.
• Outcome 3.2: Participating assistant principals and principals are more engaged with and connected to the school community and will become increasingly able to manage their own individualized and ongoing professional development.