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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 26 Application deadline:
MARCH 14, 2025

scholarships awarded

Based on need

profile of cohort 25

Applicants Accepted: 31
Enrolled: 30
Age Range: 27 – 62

communities served

2024-2025 COHORTS 1-24

High Poverty: 88%
Low Poverty: 12%

alumni leadership roles '24 - '25

DATA FOR COHORTS 1-24

District level roles 15%
Principals 15%
Assistant Principals 11%
Full-time K-12 Classroom teachers 19%
Other school-based educational leaders 16%
Higher Education  3%
Other educational roles outside of K-12 4%
Leave Education/Taking Time Off  8%
Retired 5%
Unknown 4%

diversity

Students Ethnicity Percentage – 2024-2025 COHORT 25

Gender of Students
Female: 90%   Male: 10%

Faculty Ethnicity Percentage – 2024-2025 COHORT 25

Gender of Faculty
Female: 67%   Male: 33%

Leading for Justice

Applying for the 2025-26 academic year?

The application will be available from mid-September, 2024 through March 14, 2025.

My experience in UCLA PLI was very transformative. It fortified and shaped my social justice awareness. The PLI and the framework of this program helped me build the necessary tools to make a difference in the community and to mitigate the marginalization in urban schools.”

Sandra Sanchez
Sandra Sanchez