2026-32 RFP Award Announcements Coming Soon!

December 2, 2024 RFP Update:  The North Carolina Principal Fellows Program Commission is currently reviewing applications for the 2026-32 Grant Cycle.
Award Announcements will be made soon.

How can I "apply" for the NC Principal Fellows Program?

The process of becoming a NC Principal Fellow is collaborative and involves your school principal, district leadership (Human Resources and Superintendent) and grant-funded University Programs.

No application from our state office exists.  Each academic year, grant-funded University Programs will work with their partnering school districts to determine the number of aspiring leaders they have "on the bench" and ready to enroll in a cohort.  As partners, they manage a rigorous selection process used to ensure the highest caliber participants are accepted.

NC Principal Fellows Commission Meetings Scheduled for 2024-25

The North Carolina Principal Fellows Program Commission meets regularly to discuss various aspects of the program.  The fifteen-member governing body represents various educational and business areas, and are appointed to serve four year terms.

About

Producing Exemplary School Leaders for 30 Years

The North Carolina Principal Fellows Program, launched in 1993, was a scholarship program that provides funding to exemplary educators who aspired to begin a career in school administration.  For twenty six years, scholarship funds (in the amount of ~$3.2 million) were awarded.  The Transforming Principal Preparation Program, developed in 2016, was a competitive state grant ($4 million) which required NC university programs to apply through a Request for Proposal process in order to receive funding.  These grant awards were provided to university programs and not directly to students.

In 2020, the consolidation of the NCPFP and TP3 began, keeping the best aspects of each program.  The full merger of these programs has been complete since 2021.

To read more about about the TP3 and Principal Fellows Program consolidation, click here.  You can also find more information on the Principal Preparation Program by visiting BEST NC.

CLOSING THE GAP

NC schools with higher poverty and lower academic performance lose principals at an alarming rate. We're closing the gap!

 

 

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