From Policy to Practice: Literacy-Focused Leadership Competencies Among School Leaders

This study examined the literacy-focused leadership competencies of school heads, the implementation of literacy policies, their influence on reading performance, the challenges encountered, and a proposed Learning and Development (L&D) program to strengthen leadership capacity. Findings revealed consistently high levels of literacy-focused leadership competencies, with overall mean ratings ranging from 4.18 to 4.37, all interpreted as high. School leaders demonstrated strong competencies in setting clear literacy goals, supervising instruction, embedding literacy in the School Improvement Plan, and supporting teachers through assessment-driven strategies. The highest ratings were recorded in school-based practices, particularly in supporting reading interventions, highlighting their commitment to creating literacy-rich environments. School leaders employed various strategies in implementing literacy policies, such as structured remediation schedules, the pull-out system, differentiated instruction, and one-on-one reading sessions. These practices reflect learner- centered, data-informed approaches consistent with national and international best practices in literacy intervention. Their use of tools like Phil-IRI and comprehension checks strengthened targeted interventions and enabled efficient resource allocation. School-wide literacy culture-building practices—such as DEAR, literacy celebrations, and maintaining print-rich environments—further enhanced learners’ motivation and engagement. Despite the high competence levels, school leaders faced several systemic challenges. The most significant were limited funding, insufficient monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, heavy administrative workload, weak parental engagement, and inadequate literacy materials. Gaps in teacher training also posed difficulties, limiting the effectiveness of intervention programs. To address these issues, a three-day L&D program was proposed focusing on: (1) literacy policy implementation and instructional leadership, (2) data-driven decision- making and teacher capacity building, and (3) community engagement, resource mobilization, and innovation. This program aims to strengthen key leadership domains, enhance collaboration, and support contextualized literacy improvement initiatives. Finally, the study concludes that effective literacy-focused leadership significantly influences school reading performance. Strengthening leaders’ competencies ensures systematic, equitable, and sustainable literacy development in schools.