Advancing Principal Preparation in Texas

The Texas Quality Measures Program Improvement Network supports the continuous improvement of principal preparation programs across the state. Launched by the global nonprofit Education Development Center with support from the philanthropic Wallace Foundation, Texas PIN helps universities and school districts work together to prepare effective, well-qualified school leaders.

Rooted in Texas’ 2019 education reforms—which emphasized stronger principal certification requirements and residency pathways—Texas PIN advances a coordinated, statewide approach to improving how future principals are trained.

Texas PIN Goals

Strong school leaders are essential to student success. Texas PIN helps ensure that principal preparation programs:

Provide high-quality, practice-based training
Align with state priorities and district needs
Continuously improve through data and reflection
Collaborate across institutions to share effective practices

By strengthening these programs, Texas PIN helps develop principals who are ready to lead schools and positively impact students and communities.

The Texas PIN Pathway

Texas PIN offers a structured, step-by-step pathway for principal preparation programs. Programs typically move through the following experiences:

Self-Study

Most begin their journey with the a structured, three-month self-study process completed alongside a small cohort of peer programs. The self-study is the foundation of the Quality Measures program and helps programs identify strengths, areas for growth and actionable next steps.

During this experience, participants:

Review their program’s structure, policies and outcomes
Gather and analyze evidence
Assess program quality across six key areas:
1. Candidate admissions
2. Coursework
3. Teaching and learning approaches
4. Clinical practice offering hands-on experience
5. Performance assessment
6. Graduate outcomes

Texas-based facilitators guide participants throughout the process, offering both technical support and local expertise.

Professional Learning and Statewide Collaboration

After completing the self-study, programs may join a statewide professional learning community where participants:

Continue refining improvement goals
Share strategies and resources
Learn from peer programs across Texas
Build lasting cross-institutional connections

Texas Program Improvement Network

The Texas PIN brings together alumni who have completed the Quality Measures program to sustain and expand their work. Texas PIN members:

Collaborate with peers across cohorts
Share best practices and lessons learned
Reflect on program and statewide impact

Across Texas, regional gatherings also support deeper, more relevant collaboration. These smaller groups allow participants to focus on local challenges and build stronger relationships within their region.

Together, these interconnected experiences create a sustained cycle of reflection, learning and improvement.

Texas-based Facilitators

As a key program strength, Texas PIN’s network of trained Texas-based facilitators:

Have firsthand experience completing the Quality Measures self-study
Understand the Texas education landscape
Provide guidance and support throughout each stage of the process

This local expertise helps ensure that all learning experiences are relevant, practical and grounded in the Texas context.

A Statewide Approach to Program Improvement

Texas PIN’s comprehensive system connects individual program improvement with broader, statewide collaboration. By combining structured self-assessment with ongoing peer learning, the initiative builds lasting capacity to strengthen principal preparation across Texas.