In-service, “career staged” programs vary widely in the degree and level of instructional leadership support they provide and often lack a consistent and systematic approach to professional learning. In addition, professional development programs require significant financial and human resources from both program developers and participants, and the lack of evaluative data on the effectiveness of such initiatives impedes informed decision-making (Darling-Hammond et al., 2010; Peterson, 2002). School districts and program developers with limited resources must consider the emerging research on effective program elements in order to purposefully pursue a program that includes components with demonstrated outcomes.