Although much progress has been made in students with disabilities gaining access to general education settings, there remains a significant gap between their achievement and that of their typical peers. Research has suggested that leadership is second only to classroom instruction in influencing what students learn at school because principals help create conditions important for student learning. This PLU will focus on the key dimensions of leadership important to creating inclusive schools that support the learning of students with disabilities so that they can achieve positive life outcomes.

The focus of this professional learning is to empower educational leaders with practical resources, evidence-based strategies, and enhanced professional knowledge that they can use to strengthen their foundational knowledge and skills to ensure that all educators are equipped with the necessary skills and supports, including high-quality, evidence-based training and ongoing professional development, to effectively implement positive behavioral strategies.

For over two decades, our unwavering commitment to school safety has empowered countless educators, driven innovative solutions, and shaped the future of safer learning environments. Join us at the conference as we share our journey—a hodgepodge of school safety with insights, experiences, and practical innovations that have contributed to meaningful change in school safety.

For the 2025-2026 school year, the Powerful Learning Network (PLN) will continue to build on the learning from past years while also addressing the most pressing needs of our schools, districts, and individual members. Based on member input, we will combine new learning from our focus text as well as explore additional research from key areas.

Purpose: To plan the professional learning design for the 2025-2026 school year, the ABPC will create a design team for the Powerful Learning Network (PLN). Participants on the design team will work during the summer to help develop and later fine-tune the professional learning for the sessions. Participants will be recruited to participate in the design team and then opportunities will open to other members.

The purpose of the Instructional Partner Network (IPN) is to strengthen the skills of instructional partners, coaches, administrators, and teacher leaders in key areas essential for working effectively with colleagues.

Many schools across the state do not have dedicated arts staff members to lead high quality arts programs. As a result, students are denied access to arts education. The purpose of this professional learning study is to equip administrators to integrate arts education into other content areas throughout their schools as well as to partner with community agencies to offer greater access to arts education to all students. As a result of the professional learning activities, administrators will network with art professionals and colleagues to design and implement an arts integration plan specifically for their school context. This plan will include an inventory of current access to arts programs as well as future goals for increasing offerings and access for all students.

A+ College Ready’s Regional Administrator Training will empower school leaders to raise academic expectations and achievement for ALL students through both personal and organizational commitments to excellence. The training will focus on leveraging school data to improve instructional practices (Visionary Leadership), creating and revising an instructional framework to guide instruction (Instructional Leadership), and equipping new principals with leadership tools (Managerial and Operational Leadership).

A+ College Ready’s Leadership Institute will empower school leaders to lead their schools/districts to raise academic expectations and achievement for ALL students through their personal and organizational commitment to excellence. An additional focus of the Institute is to equip leaders with research-based, high-leverage instructional strategies, as outlined in Marzano Research’s The New Art & Science of Teaching instructional framework, with the following areas of focus: Year 1 (cohort 18)–Visionary Leadership; Year 2 (cohort 17)–Instructional Leadership; Year 3 (cohort 16)–Innovative Leadership

A+ College Ready’s Leadership Launch Training will empower school leaders to raise academic expectations and achievements for ALL students throughout personal and organization commitment to excellence. The learning opportunity integrates visionary, instructional, managerial, relational, and innovative leadership to ensure alignment with the Alabama Standards for School Leadership.