Collective Leadership Effects on Student Achievement

Bibliographic Data

ID23318477
AuthorsKenneth Leithwood (0000-0002-8053-7347, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto,, corresponding author), Blair Mascall (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto)
Year2008
Volume44
Issue4
Pages529-561
Publication date2008-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEducational Administration Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0013-161X • E-ISSN: 1552-3519
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0013161x08321221
OpenAlexW2136303289
LanguageEN
Citations received83
References cited47

Purpose: This study aimed to estimate the impact of collective, or shared, leadership on key teacher variables and on student achievement. As well, it inquired about the relative contribution of different sources of such leadership and whether differences among patterns of collective leadership were related to differences in student achievement. Methods: Evidence included 2,570 teacher responses from 90 elementary and secondary schools in which four or more teachers completed usable surveys. Student achievement data in language and math averaged over 3 years were acquired through school Web sites. Data were analyzed using path-analytic techniques. Findings: Collective leadership explained a significant proportion of variation in student achievement across schools. Higher-achieving schools awarded leadership influence to all school members and other stakeholders to a greater degree than that of lower-achieving schools. These differences were most significant in relation to the leadership exercised by school teams, parents, and students. Principals were awarded the highest levels of influence in schools at all levels of achievement. Implications: Influence seems to be an infinite resource in schools. The more those in formal leadership roles give it away, the more they acquire.

Academic achievement · Educational leadership · Instructional leadership · Leadership style · Mathematics education · Path analysis (statistics) · Pedagogy · Shared leadership · Student achievement · Teacher Leadership · Collaborative Teaching and Inclusion · Mathematics · Parental Involvement in Education · Psychology · Social Psychology · Teacher Education and Leadership Studies

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