RAPPS (Rural Alaska Principal Preparation and Support) is a comprehensive leadership development program focused on preparation of principals for high-poverty and remote Alaska schools, and support for those who are currently serving in those schools.

RAPPS provides scholarships to promising practicing teacher-leaders in 16 high-need rural districts so that they can obtain their Type B credential and become principals.

RAPPS offers a complete system of support for aspiring and practicing school leaders including: a distance-delivered, rural-focused cohort within the UAA Educational Leadership Program; mentoring for aspiring principals during their internship with coaches from the Alaska Administrator Coaching Project; and no-cost distance-delivered and face-to-face professional learning opportunities for all staff from the 16 partner rural districts throughout the year from the Alaska Staff Development Network.

Our goal is to train and place 55 new principals during the course of this 5-year project and to strengthen the leadership skills of principals from 135 of Alaska's highest need schools.