Innovative Principal Prep2Practice Grant Program
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has a deep history of developing regulations and interventions designed to increase the supply of well-prepared school leaders. One of the most recent interventions took the form of the Innovative Principal Residency program which was funded up to year 2021. This grant program enabled Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) with principal preparation programs to experiment with an extended internship/residency component.
While the Innovative Principal Residency grant program focused on refining the traditional internship/residency component of school leader preparation programs, PDE also recognizes the importance of providing enhanced clinical experiences within preparation programs as well as assistance during the transition into a school leader position following certification. A well-designed induction program can support novice school leaders during their early years and can improve effectiveness as well as retention.
Enhanced clinical experiences for aspiring school leaders at both the internship/residency and induction levels presuppose a strong collaboration between school leader preparation programs and cooperating Local Education Agencies (LEAs). Strengthening these partnerships is a priority for the Department.
PDE is pleased to announce a grant opportunity for preparation programs to build innovative partnerships with LEAs that improve the "prep to practice" linkage in the preparation of school leaders. The Department sees cohesive and deepened clinical experience as an important means of addressing the overarching issues that prompted the creation of the Innovative Principal Residency grant program.
Given the growing awareness of the need to further diversify the educator leader workforce, PDE recognizes the importance of increasing the supply of highly qualified recruits into leadership roles from underrepresented groups within the field, particularly those from racial and ethnic minorities. PDE also recognizes the need for all educators, including school leaders, to be knowledgeable about and sensitive to the need for culturally relevant and sustaining education.
Types of Grants
Planning Grants will be awarded to consortia with EPPs as the lead grantee and are intended to assist EPPs in their efforts to create partnerships with Local Education Agencies (LEAs). During the grant period, the partnership is expected to improve the 'prep to practice' linkage in the preparation of school leaders. The highest dollar amount for a planning grant will be $100,000 and the funds must be expended during the 2022-2023 academic year. Deadline to submit applications is October 21, 2022.
Applications should be completed using the eGrants system. If you need a login for eGrants, please complete
Teacher Prep to Practice Grants & Principal Prep to Practice Grants form, and allow one week to receive permission to access the system. Please check the application for guidelines document before you prepare your application.
Need Help or Have Questions? Please e-mail
RA-EDOPHEGrants@pa.gov