TOMORROW: NASSP and LPI Release Principal Turnover Report in Livestream Event

As COVID-19 creates daunting new challenges for public schools, an already known issue will likely be further exacerbated by the crisis: turnover and shortages in the teacher and school leader professions. While much attention has been paid to teacher shortages in recent years, far less examination has been given to administrators—until now.

Tomorrow during a free livestream event, NASSP and the Learning Policy Institute (LPI) will release “Supporting a Strong, Stable Principal Workforce: What Matters and What Can Be Done,” the final report in an intensive joint research initiative between the two organizations. The report analyzes new data from an extensive national survey of principals; uncovers root causes of turnover in the profession; and outlines policy recommendations for Congress, states, districts, and schools to support and retain high-quality school leaders.

During tomorrow’s event, LPI President and CEO Linda Darling-Hammond, NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti, and a panel of practicing school leaders will discuss the impact of principal turnover on teachers and students, provide strategies to increase principal retention, and offer recommendations policymakers can enact to support those strategies.

Tune in tomorrow for this important event, and be the first to access your copy of the new report on the NASSP webpage.

THIS MONTH'S TOP ADVOCACY ISSUES

Strained Schools Seek Assistance as Congress Eyes Further COVID-19 Relief

After passing the CARES Act last month—a massive $2.2 trillion emergency coronavirus relief package that included $13.5 billion in assistance for K–12 schools—Congress is in the midst of debate on yet another round of much-needed assistance to struggling states, businesses, individuals, and schools everywhere.

The advocacy of educators helped lead to some funding for K–12 education being included in the CARES Act, but the $13.5 billion allocated by Congress falls far short of what will ultimately be required to sustain our nation’s schools as they deal with looming budget shortfalls from lost tax revenue and seek to educate students remotely and manage building closures. NASSP has joined other major national education organizations in calling on Congress to appropriate at least $192 billion in needed crisis assistance. As new data emerge revealing the true scope of the situation schools are facing, it’s critical that lawmakers act now to prevent crisis from becoming catastrophe.

Other critical issues many national education groups continue to advocate for in the next round of congressional action include enacting temporary flexibility to a limited set of IDEA provisions and increasing funding for the FCC’s E-Rate program to help close the homework gap and assist students who lack reliable home internet access and are at risk of falling behind during COVID-19 remote learning.

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