According to Shanahan (2016), without an effective leader paving the way, successful implementation of the practices that do have the highest effects on raising student achievement—such as amount of instruction, quality of instruction, and curriculum and programs—cannot be realized.   This is because most school variables, considered separately, have mostly small effects on learning. According to Principal as Leader (Wallace Foundation, 2013), the “real payoff comes when individual variables combine to reach critical mass.” Creating the conditions under which this can occur is the job of the principal, and we at Side-by-Side have extensive experience in supporting principals as they lead these efforts

Our consultants are especially skilled at working collaboratively with leadership in designing instructional frameworks that reduce the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students in all disaggregated groups