Primary and Secondary Administration

Primary and secondary public schools are governed by local school districts and their boards. Policies and regulations tend to be uniform across all schools within a district except for charter schools and certain differences respecting grade levels and special needs schools. Individual schools are administered within the confines of these general requirements, so autonomy is limited. Private schools are self-governing, although their administrators are accountable to their boards and occasionally to policies set by religious authorities and other oversight groups.

General Information

General resources on school administration include:

American Association of School Administrators (AASA) is the national association representing school, district, and state agency personnel who administer and supervise education.

ASD Connections to Professional Organizations provides links to many of the associations whose members provide administrative and support services.

The ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management provides comprehensive information and reference assistance on all aspects of the organization and administration of primary and secondary education.

School Leadership

The leaders in charge of public schools are usually called principals in the United States, and the heads of private schools tend to be called headmasters or headmistresses. Sometimes school leadership is referred to as school building administration to distinguish it from other levels of administrative leadership. The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) is the professional association representing the heads of primary schools.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the professional association representing the heads of secondary schools.

Go to State Level Organizationand Local Level Organization for additional information on school organization and oversight.

Other School Services

U.S. laws and regulations, as well as the needs of educators and students, have led to the existence of a wide variety of professional administrative and support services in U.S. schools.

School Librarians/Media Specialists

American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is the national professional association for school library and educational media specialists.

Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) is the national association for library and information professionals specializing in children's literature in all settings.

Curriculum Supervisors/Specialists

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) provides information and resources pertaining to the functions associated with designing and overseeing the curriculum, which are important roles at the state, local district, and school building levels.

Student Counseling/Guidance

American School Counselor Association (ASCA) is the professional association for U.S. school guidance counselors.

School Food Services American School Food Service Association (ASFSA) is a national association for dieticians and administrators who manage school food services and the vendors who provide such services.

School Health Services

American School Health Association (ASHA) is a national association for professionals who provide health services in school settings, such as school nurses, health counselors, physicians, and dentists.

National Association of School Nurses (NASN) is the professional association for nurses certified to practice in school settings.

Standardized Testing National Association of Test Directors (NATD) is the national professional association of specialists who administer psychometric and diagnostic tests and related assessment instruments at the primary and secondary education levels.