Book excerpt: This book showcases programs and practices which demonstrate exemplary school leadership. Sponsored by the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium, the ISLLC Standards offer benchmarks for professional excellence that are tied to licensure and entry year principal programs throughout the nation. The ISLLC Standards in Action: A Principal’s Handbook demonstrates how these standards have been implemented at schools and districts across the country. 120 programs and practices are profiled in this book. They show you how to: create a school mission statement, and communicate it to your entire community; develop school-wide literacy by celebrating it; establish a “nuts & bolts” committee to review and tweak school policies and procedures; and implement a “Safe School Helpline.” Each profile summarizes the program’s goals and links it to the ISLLC Standards. Also included are tips and strategies to help you adapt and implement it in your own school or district.