About the Principal Leadership Institute

UCLA Principal Leadership Institute Students

UCLA’s Principal Leadership Institute program (PLI) prepares educators to be social justice leaders in Los Angeles schools who:

  • Advocate for quality learning opportunities;
  • Improve teaching and learning;
  • Promote educational achievement for all students;
  • Create democratic and culturally-responsive learning environments;
  • Build partnerships with parents and community groups.

program grants

Completion of the program provides:

  • Master of Education degree
  • California Tier 1 Administrative Credential

application deadline

Cohort 25 Application deadline:
MARCH 1, 2024

scholarships awarded

Based on need

profile of cohort 24

Applicants Accepted: 23
Enrolled: 23
Age Range: 27 – 58

communities served

2023-2024 COHORTS 1-23

High Poverty: 87%
Low Poverty: 13%

diversity

Ethnicity of Students – 2023-2024 COHORT 24

Gender of Students
Female: 65%   Male: 35%

Ethnicity of Faculty – 2023-2024 COHORT 24

Gender of Faculty
Female: 60%   Male: 40%

alumni leadership roles '23 - '24

DATA FOR COHORTS 1-23 (848 alumni)

District level roles 15%
Principals 16%
Assistant Principals 14%
Full-time K-12 Classroom teachers 17%
Other school-based educational leaders 15%
Higher Education  4%
Other educational roles outside of K-12 4%
Leave Education/Taking Time Off  6%
Retired 5%
Unknown 4%

Leading for Justice

Applying for the 2025-26 academic year?

The application will be available from mid-September, 2024 through March 1, 2025.

Our children need empowered advocates. PLI takes educators with a desire to serve the community and supercharges them with knowledge from dynamic professors, authentic social justice leadership examples, and a lifelong support system from both the University and like-minded colleagues. The program has deepened my ability to recognize and act in the face of inequities as both an educator and mother. I am forever grateful to PLI for transforming me into a wiser and more effective champion for all children.”

Karen Robinson
Karen Robinson