Sixth Essential: A Playbook For School Leaders

The game plan for school success is not hidden. After more than three decades of research in schools of every type, researchers atUniversity of Chicago identified a set of conditions associated with school improvement. That work has helped educators better understand what matters in building effective schools.

The Sixth Essential focuses on what it takes to move that understanding into practice. It shares real stories and actionable ideas to help districts and schools implement the right strategies at the right time. When schools design and execute strong plays, they strengthen leadership, align systems, build trust, and create the conditons needed for progress to take hold.

In this work, the Sixth essential is defined as the internal capacity to consistently execute, sustain progress, and accelerate improvement over time.

This is not just about knowing what matters. It is about building the ability to do the work, lead it well, and sustain it over time.