The Effect of Principal Behaviors on Student, Teacher, and School Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Empirical Literature

Principals are understood to be critical actors in improving teaching and learning conditions in schools; however, relatively little is known about the leadership strategies to which principals should dedicate their time and effort to improve outcomes. We review the empirical literature from 51 studies of principal behaviors and student, teacher, and school outcomes and conduct a meta-analysis of these relationships. Our analysis has three central findings: (1) we find direct evidence of the relationship between principal behaviors and student achievement (0.08–0.16 SD), teacher well-being (0.34–0.38 SD), teacher instructional practices (0.35 SD), and school organizational health (0.72–0.81 SD); (2) we highlight the importance of principal behaviors beyond instructional management as potential tools to improve student achievement outcomes; and (3) the preceding findings are based almost entirely on observational studies because the causal evidence base on school leadership behaviors is nonexistent. We argue our findings suggest value in investing in school leadership capacities. We conclude by discussing opportunities to improve the quality of future research examining the relationship between principal behaviors and student, teacher, and school outcomes.

Teachers' perceptions of the effect of leadership on school climate

This mixed methods research examines the relationship between principal leadership and school climate. A sample of 63 elementary teachers evaluated their school climate and leadership through the OCDQ-RE and the MLQ-5X and expressed their views on both by responding to open-ended questions. Quantitative analysis for both questionnaires, correlations between the dimensions of the two instruments and qualitative analysis of the open-ended questions were conducted to determine the leadership characteristics and behaviors that impact school climate the most. Both principals scored high on supportive and directive behavior and were “more transformational” and “more transactional than the norm”; teachers scored high on collegial and intimate behavior; school climates were determined to be open. Correlational analysis revealed significant positive relationships between the characteristics of transformational and transactional leadership and both supportive and directive principal behaviors; qualitative results showed that characteristics of transformational leadership and supportive principal behaviors have the most impact on school climate. The results of this study revealed that although the principals were perceived as highly directive, the climates were still open. This calls for further exploration of the impact of principal behaviors on school climate and whether teacher behaviors are more significant determinants of school climate than principal behaviors are.