1. What does research say effective principals do?
2. How can parents work with principals?
3. How can I use data to learn more about my school?
4. What research insights about principal hiring, evaluation, and support are helpful for Local School Council members?
Principals have a big impact—but they can’t do it alone.
Families are essential partners in school success. Our newest Family Playbook helps parent and community leaders better understand what great principals do—and how to work together to build strong, supportive school communities.
The UChicago Consortium conducts research that helps educators, parents, and leaders build better schools for all Chicago students. The Family Playbook series is part of our effort to make research accessible, actionable, and aligned with the lived experiences of families.
Puede leer este playbook en español aquí.
What’s inside the new playbook
This playbook is packed with research, tips, and tools for parents, caregivers, and Local School Council (LSC) members:
- What effective principal leadership looks like
- Key questions families can ask school leaders
- Ways to use public data about your school (ex: 5Essentials Survey data, the To&Through Milestones Tool, CIWP, and more)
Did you know?
Research shows that effective principals…
- Improve student learning and outcomes like grades, attendance, and graduation
- Create the conditions for strong teaching and learning
- Share leadership and foster collaboration
- Engage families as valued partners
Families can…
- Connect with your principal and school leadership team
- Learn about your school’s Continuous Improvement Work Plan (CIWP)
- Dive into school data (5Essentials, CPS Profiles, To&Through)
- Get involved in your LSC, PAC, or BAC Partner to strengthen school culture
Plus: Extra info for LSCs
The playbook offers resources that are especially helpful to LSC members:
- A quick guide on the 5Essentials Survey to best use that data
- Research insights and related resources for principal hiring, evaluation, and support
