The Comparative Benefits and Outcomes of Enriched Internship Experiences

This article presents the leadership development impact of a multi-cohort state-funded initiative to provide enhanced internships for leadership preparation candidates from low- and moderate-resourced suburban districts.

It presents the results for 26 grant-funded and 35 non-grant-funded candidates who completed a two-year leadership preparation program leading to licensure. Grant funding enabled the program and districts to create more extensive and authentic leadership opportunities for funded candidates.

While all candidates regardless of funding graduated on time, those with grant support were then more likely to advance to initial school leadership positions than their non-funded peers.