Iowa Standards for School Leaders

(Adopted November 2020. Effective July 2021)

STANDARD 1. MISSION, VISION, AND CORE VALUES
Educational leaders develop, advocate, and enact a shared mission, vision, and core values of high-quality education and academic success and well-being of each student.

STANDARD 2. ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL NORMS
Educational leaders act ethically and according to professional norms to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

STANDARD 3. EQUITY AND CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS
Educational leaders strive for equity of educational opportunity and culturally responsive practices to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

STANDARD 4. CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION, AND ASSESSMENT
Educational leaders develop and support intellectually rigorous and coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, and assessment to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

STANDARD 5. COMMUNITY OF CARE AND SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS
Educational leaders cultivate an inclusive, caring, and supportive school community that promotes the academic success and well-being of each student.

STANDARD 6. PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY OF SCHOOL PERSONNEL
Educational leaders develop the professional capacity and practice of school personnel to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

STANDARD 7. PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF
Educational leaders foster a professional community of teachers and other professional staff to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

STANDARD 8. MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT OF FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY
Educational leaders engage families and the community in meaningful, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial ways to promote each student’s academic success and well- being.

STANDARD 9. OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT
Educational leaders manage school operations and resources to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

STANDARD 10. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
Educational leaders act as agents of continuous improvement to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

Adapted from National Policy Board for Educational Administration (2015). Professional Standards for Educational Leaders 2015. Reston, VA: Author