Leadership

Early Learning Program Accreditation Standards and Assessment Items – This document, published by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, outlines the standards and assessment items that provide guidance to all programs about making improvements regardless of whether they intend to seek accreditation. Leadership and Management begins on p. 115.

• National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) – This professional organization serves elementary and middle school principals and other education leaders throughout the U.S., Canada, and overseas. Learn more about how they support Early Childhood Education and grow leadership:
• Pre-K-3 Leadership Academy – Ongoing professional learning focused on building the capacity of principals and directors to lead Pre-K-3 communities.
• Leading Learning Communities: A Principal’s Guide to Early Learning and the Early Grades (Pre-K–3rd Grade) – NAESP’s signature guide outlines competencies for effective principal practice in leading learning from Pre-K to third grade.

Organizational Leadership – provides resources to help navigate effective management tasks and relationships. Some of the many topics include building communication systems, oversight & leadership systems, and designing effective record-keeping systems.

Head Start A to Z, 2.0 – In the Head Start Learning for New Leaders modules, explore Head Start’s history, guiding regulations, and management systems, and find easy-to-adapt resources to tailor professional learning for staff and other stakeholders.

WI DPI Educator Standards – The Wisconsin Educator Standards outline characteristics of good teachers, pupil services professionals, and administrators, by identifying components and defining qualities of best professional practice. These standards are incorporated into Wisconsin Educator preparation programs and are used by Wisconsin educators to guide career-long professional development. There are 11 Administrator Standards.

The Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System – A learning-centered, continuous improvement system designed to improve the education of all students in the state of Wisconsin by supporting guided, individualized, self-determined professional growth and development of educators.

• Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System User Guide for Principals, Principal Supervisors, and Coaches – Foundation of the learning-centered evaluation system and processes of principals and assistant principals. Appendices include deeper learning opportunities.
• School Administrators Performance Evaluation System (SAPES) – The SAPES is based on the Stronge Evaluation Model and provides a basis for leadership improvement through productive school administrator performance appraisal and professional growth. It identifies six performance standards for effective school leaders/administrators. This evaluation system is part of the CESA 6 Growth and Development Center-Effectiveness Project.

A Practical Toolkit | Building State and Local Leadership for Early Childhood Education, a resource from the Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO), delivers materials and support to state and local education professionals aiming to develop the expertise required for effectively leading and integrating high-quality early learning across the P-12 educational spectrum.

DEC Recommended Practices Leadership Checklists – The ECTA Center offers three checklists to help state and local leaders reflect on and improve their leadership practices. These tools provide strategies for promoting collaboration, fostering a supportive work environment, and clearly communicating the organization’s vision.

• Collaboration in Leadership Checklist provides strategies leaders can use to promote collaboration within and across agencies and programs at the state and local level. 
• Motivation and Guidance in Leadership Checklist offers examples of practices leaders can use to create an environment in which work can get done in an effective and rewarding way. 
• Vision and Direction in Leadership Checklist includes examples of steps leaders can take to help create a well-functioning and forward-thinking organization and to help practitioners feel a sense of belonging as they understand their purpose within the organization. Each checklist is downloadable in English and Spanish for use as a self-assessment tool and to plan for effective ways to use leadership practices.

Updated 9/17/2025