3 Leadership Strategies to Improve Student Learning Outcomes
While reports abound of widening achievement gaps, escalating behavioral issues, and declining mental health in American schools, a heartening trend is also emerging: an emphasis on educational leadership that makes a difference. School leaders can positively influence student learning outcomes at a macro level, elevating the educational experience across an entire school or school system.
What Is the Current State of Student Learning Outcomes?
The National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly known as “The Nation’s Report Card,” is published every two years and widely regarded as the benchmark for academic performance. An ABC News examination describes the findings of the most recent report as “grim” and calls for an “urgent” response.
The 2024 assessment, compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics and released by the U.S. Department of Education, identifies an average decline in reading scores since 2022, a continuing slide since 2019. Overall performance in both reading and math persists below pre-pandemic levels. The data also reveals an increasing gap, with students at the 90th percentile improving or remaining steady, and student scores in the lowest percentiles dropping.
What Are the Factors for Improving Student Outcomes?
Measuring students’ knowledge and skills may identify academic weaknesses in our nation’s schools, but to improve student performance, it is critical to evaluate the underlying factors.
School Attendance and Support
The “Experiences and Opportunities in Education” section of the NAEP report reveals some clues about what lies beneath the surface data:
- While school attendance has improved since 2022, absenteeism is still higher than in 2019. Approximately 30 percent of students fall in the category of “high absenteeism.”
- Most students do not have access to tutoring during school hours.
- While a large majority of students see their teachers as caring and approachable, only about half say most students have needed access to social-emotional support.
Student Behavior and Mental Health
A report by Education Week identifies student behavior as a significant issue affecting classroom morale. Most teachers surveyed indicated a rise in behavior problems since the pandemic, with those percentages continuing to increase in the last two years.
Mental health also contributes to both academic and behavioral challenges. Data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness shows that, annually, more than 15 percent of children aged six to 17 struggle with a mental health condition such as ADHD or depression.
Teacher Satisfaction and Engagement
The NAEP findings also reveal that more than half of fourth- and eighth-grade teachers surveyed expressed dissatisfaction with their jobs. Teacher absenteeism is also higher than pre-pandemic levels.
As all these factors converge, schools face a daunting teacher shortage crisis. According to data from the Learning Policy Institute, almost half a million teaching positions nationally are either vacant or filled by uncertified teachers.
Why Does Investing in Student Outcomes Need to Happen at the Leadership Level?
An administrator contributes to the learning experience for all students both directly and indirectly. By incorporating practices, resources, and accountability, a school leader creates a framework for effective teaching and learning. In fostering a thriving environment with holistic support, an administrator can motivate, equip, and encourage students and teachers to achieve.
An extensive recent study published by the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) concluded that 1) organizational climate and 2) educational leaders are “significant variables” in creating better student outcomes.
Qualities of Effective Educational Leadership
The subject of improving student outcomes has been a prominent international focus at an educational leadership level in recent years. A proliferation of studies and literature indicates optimism for what schools can accomplish with effective leadership.
Two primary theories, transformational leadership and instructional leadership, are driving strategic action. Transformational leadership focuses on school culture and vision, aiming to develop people and improve the organization. Instructional leadership emphasizes learning objectives, student achievement, and the quality of teaching.
Both aspects of leadership are essential for equipping and supporting teachers and students. An educational leader is positioned to improve student performance through school- or system-level strategy.
Case in Point: The Difference One Leader Can Make
The story of the 2025 National Superintendent of the Year is one notable case of what an educational leader can do to improve student learning outcomes. After achieving national recognition from the School Superintendents Association (AASA), Walter Gonsoulin was also heralded by U.S. News & World Report in its “Best Leaders” list for “turning a struggling school district into a model for the nation.”
Gonsoulin’s forward-thinking leadership in Jefferson County, Alabama, has expanded educational experiences across his school district and introduced partnerships with employers and community colleges. He maintains a rigorous tracking system for ongoing improvement and continually incorporates input from people around him. These strategies have led to a surge in college and workforce readiness among graduates, benefiting an entire community.
Strategies for Improving Student Outcomes
Effective educational leaders provide vital resources for quality education and create a learning-friendly school climate. Here are three strategies that are working in today’s educational landscape.
1. Promote Professional Collaboration
A growing evidence-based trend in teacher development is the systematic practice of professional peer learning. Within such a framework, the educational leader serves as a coach, facilitating interaction.
The nonprofit group Instruction Partners recently published an interview with Jason Grissom, co-author of the landmark Wallace Foundation report How Principals Affect Students and Schools. In the interview, Grissom describes the benefits of horizontal professional development within schools. In considering the multilayered challenges of contemporary education, teachers benefit from their colleagues' experience and wisdom.
Recent findings from the Fordham Institute confirm this strategy. The 2025 report, Think Again, identifies professional collaboration as a driving factor in teachers’ ongoing improvement.
The 2025-26 High School National Principal of the Year, Tony Cattani, demonstrates the power of such cooperation. The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) credits Cattani with “innovative approaches” that can serve as a model for other schools.
In Cattani’s New Jersey school, he has orchestrated a system in which teachers learn from one another through planned observations and “collegiality cafes.” The strategy has now generated more than 3,000 occasions of intentional interaction.
2. Encourage Teacher Input at a Macro Level
Closely related to professional collaboration is the principle of engaging teachers in leadership planning and decision-making. In this strategy, an educational leader establishes systems for feedback and idea-sharing that benefit the entire school or school system.
A broad study by the nonprofit organization Instructional Empowerment found direct connections between teacher input and reduced burnout. Findings show that empowerment and opportunities for teachers to use their expertise contributed to greater satisfaction.
By encouraging teacher input, leaders not only gain valuable ideas for systematic improvement but also foster a healthy school environment. Giving teachers a voice in decision-making can boost morale and even help to support teacher retention.
3. Integrate Student Support Resources
Because environmental factors such as socioeconomic status and mental health concerns often hinder a student’s learning experience, effective administrators adopt a holistic approach to student success. By providing access to emotional support resources, educators remove barriers and facilitate better learning climates for teachers and students.
Connecticut’s Harding High School recently celebrated a move out of “turnaround status” by focusing on students’ well-being. Action plans included:
- Clinical mental health support during school hours
- Increased structure and consistent expectations
- Enhanced extracurricular activities and academic opportunities
Building partnerships with other community organizations is also a vital part of providing student resources. At Harding High School, leaders relied on partners for mental health clinical services and referred students to allied discovery programs for career exploration.
How Does Earning an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership Enhance Your Knowledge and Skills?
Improving student learning outcomes can have far-reaching positive consequences for schools and the communities they serve, and doctorally prepared educational leaders play an essential role. While a PhD in Education primarily prepares graduates for academic research that is foundational to the field's development, an EdD focuses on applying research to practice.
Earning an EdD prepares you to invest in student outcomes by developing your knowledge, insights, and leadership skills. Coursework in the online Educational Leadership program at St. Bonaventure University includes course content such as:
- Leadership Theories and Practices—Guiding change in organizational environments.
- Mission-Driven Educational Leadership—Inspiring both an individual’s and a larger organization’s purpose.
- Making Methods Match Problems of Practice—Addressing real-world problems through applied research.
How Will You Impact Student Learning Outcomes?
Learn to lead with compassion, ethics, integrity, and a commitment to positive social change through SBU's Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership degree. The flexibility and customized nature of the online program put your next step within reach.
Program highlights include:
- Learn on Your Terms—Individualized study options and creating your own dissertation.
- Make an Impact—Leadership empowerment through critical inquiry, reflection, and dynamic strategies.
- Develop Professional Knowledge—Integration of practical research and theory.
- Grow Personally and Professionally—Practitioner-focused program for the future of educational leadership.
With a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership, you can make a meaningful difference in student learning outcomes.