Indiana State University Newsroom

The Indiana Principal Leadership Institute (IPLI) at Indiana State University's Bayh College of Education is accepting applications for its third cohort.

The application deadline is March 15.

Created with bipartisan support during the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly, IPLI is a two-year experience that addresses the professional needs of Indiana public school principals with an emphasis on student success.

The IPLI experience lasts two years for each cohort, with more than 50 principals participating in each group. The principals develop and implement personal and school improvement plans, facilitate action research projects at their school, and build a network with other principals to gain support during and beyond the institute experience.

The first cohort will graduate from IPLI in April. Their accomplishments include boosting the individual grades of their school, implementing data-driven processes to enhance student performance, improving classroom instruction, and strengthening school culture. More than 72,000 students in 58 counties have been touched by their work. Twenty of the first cohort's 56 principals saw their school grades increase under the A-F model.

"The Indiana Principal Leadership Institute is making a difference for our children, our schools and our communities," said Linda Marrs-Morford, executive director of IPLI. "The initial results from our principals and their work are promising. We are continuing to help our principals put their schools on a path to better performance, where importantly, the whole child can learn and grow." Each principal is matched with a trained mentor who helps guide the principal's work throughout the two-year experience. In the second year, principals include two teachers from their schools in IPLI seminars, to ensure teachers are a part of the process.

Results from among the 200 action research studies already conducted by IPLI principals include finding new ways to increase collaboration time for teachers and boosting the number and quality of classroom observations.

Principals interested in applying for the third class should apply online at www.indianapli.org. Their responsibilities include attending five seminars each year. A one-time financial contribution of $1,000 from the school corporation is required for participation, as it cements both the commitment of the principal and superintendent to the program.

Nominating a principal implies the superintendent and school board think the principal has the potential to improve their school, are supportive of positive change in the school and will allow data collection to occur.

Fifty principals are invited to participate in the third class, which will launch this summer at Indiana State.

In addition to the targeted work with each cohort, IPLI is committed to serving as a resource for all Indiana principals, their schools and their school communities. This includes sharing research, providing access to leadership assessments, and offering tools to develop action research plans. IPLI's website, www.indianapli.org, serves as the clearinghouse for this information.

To learn more about the Indiana Principal Leadership Institute, please visit www.indianapli.org.