According to a recent Wallace Foundation research report, “Principals really matter. Indeed, given not just the magnitude but the scope of principal effects, which are felt across a potentially large student body and faculty in a school, it is difficult to envision an investment with a higher ceiling on its potential return than a successful effort to improve principal leadership.”  

With this in mind, ESD 123 will establish and support a Networked Improvement Community for building leaders focused on creating inclusive school environments.  Building leaders will meet monthly via zoom or in-person as permitted and desired.  The NIC will focus on developing a common understanding of inclusion and why schools need to be inclusive, how principals affect students and school culture, and examine ways school leaders can guide change necessary for creating inclusive school environments. ESD 123 will provide resources for the network to explore as well as technical assistance as appropriate.  Participants will have the opportunity to provide interact with veteran leaders as well as new principal leaders.  Participants will have the opportunity to earn up to 10 clock hours.  

Principals will be asked to describe inclusion and why it is important as both a formative and summative assessment.  This anecdotal information will provide evidence of impact of the network.  Principals will be provided with tools to explore how students with disabilities are provided services in their buildings and establish a vision for inclusionary practices within their respective schools.  Principals will also have the opportunity to explore building level systems necessary to support inclusionary practices and rate the effectiveness of the systems currently in place in their respective buildings.