The leading priority for National Centre for School Leadership (NCSL) in NUEPA, is to build leadership capacities for change, eventually leading to transformation of schools. To achieve this mission, the Centre will engage in capacity building programmes for the school heads, based on a curriculum that is grounded on the needs and issues of the states and the diversity therein, in the area of school education. The Centre will also encourage networking among schools and related resource institutions so as to facilitate meaningful exchange of experiences, lateral learning and shared problem-solving. It will also organize and promote research on leadership and governance of school education with a view to encourage evidence-based decision-making at systemic and institutional levels. The Centre will also function as a repository of information for all developments in the areas of leadership and governance in school education. The leadership programmes would cover existing and freshly inducted school principals, current and aspiring School Heads as well as senior teachers from elementary to higher secondary levels, functioning in both government and government-aided sectors.

The National Programme Design and Curriculum Framework prepared by NCSL, enunciates the basic principle involved in pursuing the transformative agenda for change and development of every school. It points to the need for developing leadership capabilities of School Heads from elementary to higher secondary stages. The design of School Leadership Development Programme is made operational by creation of synergy between NCSL and the States. At National Level, the Centre is guided by the National Advisory Group, National Resource Group, team of Mentors and also works in collaboration with its international partners like the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL), Nottingham, United Kingdom. At the State level, the Centre works through consultation with the State Resource Groups, critical mass of experts and professionals, and Anchor and Nodal institutions. Considering Leadership Development Programme inherently transformative and realistic, closer to individual school realities, the idea is that the Nodal Institution can eventually become Leadership Academy to take the School Leadership Development Programme forward and ensure its sustainability.

The Curriculum Framework on School Leadership Development has been developed as a comprehensive document addressing differential leadership requirements to help  States to adapt to context-specific needs of School Heads. There are six key areas, twenty five units and four special focus areas identified in the document. The Curriculum has been developed, based on a series of consultations at national and state levels, bringing together a large number of experts and field functionaries. This has ensured that the curriculum not only addresses the concerns of school quality but also the requirements of equity, keeping in view the vastly diverse contexts and conditions in which our schools function. The curriculum document is seen as dynamic and responsive to changing demands of the school system.

The Handbook in its trial version is a comprehensive document guiding the capacity building programmes for School Leadership Development among School Heads. The document provides detailed programme structure for 10-day direct engagement with the participants with follow provisions for one year through mentoring and coaching and formation of professional learning communities in the specified geographical area. The handbook is developed following a participatory approach by conducting workshops and deliberations with the National Resource Group, the State Resource Groups as well as try out and piloting with School Heads of select States.