NC School Executive Leadership Program Receives $4.5 Million Grant

 College of Education and Allied Professions      July 16, 2021

The University of North Carolina System announced that six System institutions are the recipients of recurring grants from the North Carolina Principal Fellows Program (NCPFP), including Western Carolina University. Starting in 2022, the College of Education and Allied Professions North Carolina School Executive Leadership Program will receive principal preparation grants for up to $750,000 per year for the next six years, totaling $4.5 million. In 2015, the North Carolina General Assembly established this competitive grant program to elevate educators in North Carolina public schools by transforming the preparation of principals across the State. The goal of the program is to provide funds for the preparation and support of highly effective school principals in North Carolina.

The North Carolina Principal Fellows Program is currently producing approximately 40% of the state’s educational leadership demand. “These annual reoccurring grants will be vital for our universities to help train exceptional candidates to one day become school principals,” said Dr. Andrew Kelly, UNC System Senior Vice President of Strategy and Policy. “The UNC System is proud to partner with NCPFP and would like to thank them for their continued support of education leadership training throughout the System.”