Christopher Mazzeo, National Governors Association's Center for Best Practices
September 2003.
This constructive ten-pager discusses what states can do to strengthen the leadership (principals, mainly) of their public schools. It tackles three big issues - licensure, preparation, and professional development - and offers valuable insights and sage advice on all three. This includes removing "barriers for talented individuals to enter the profession," establishing "alternative principal preparation programs," and tailoring the professional development of school leaders to the expectations of NCLB. You can find it online here.