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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 2026-27 academic year?

The application will be available from mid-September, 2025 through February 2, 2026.

My experience in PLI was transformative. I went into the program thinking I would learn exactly what it meant to be a social justice leader, so I could just be that. Instead, I graduated a more empathetic and aware advocate with tools for change, a vision of educational equity, a small army of allies.”

LaNea Austin
LaNea' Austin