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 2024-25 academic year?

The application will be available from mid-September, 2023 through March 1, 2024.

My experience as a member of PLI Cohort 20 was an unprecedented year of firsts. Personally, it was the first time I felt comfortable showing up as my full, authentic and intersectional identity. PLI was refreshing in that I was fortunate enough to experience a journey alongside a community of social justice leaders and educators committed to self improvement and discovery. Dr. Bettina Love’s quote “Education cannot save us. We have to save education,” continues to motivate me in personal path in disrupting and eradicating educational inequality for students of color. Ultimately, my multifaceted PLI experience added more fuel to the inner flame that emboldens me to share my story and use my voice for this immensely difficult and important work toward social justice.

Brianna Richards
Brianna Richards