The Texas Principal Leadership Academy (TPLA) at the University of Texas at Austin is an intensive, 12-month Master of Education (M.Ed.) program offered by the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy. It is designed to prepare graduates to take the Texas Principal as Instructional Leader EC-12 exam and become equity-centered, culturally responsive leaders for public schools in Texas. The program emphasizes hands-on, inquiry-driven practical experience—including collaborative case studies, equity audits, and community-based projects—in partnership with local school districts. Students learn within a cohort structure and are supported by dedicated faculty, district supervisors, and field supervisors to maximize leadership growth and school impact. Graduates have a high rate of first-time certification exam success (97%) and are widely recognized for achieving principal or assistant principal roles shortly after graduation.