This document provides an outline for a proposed dissertation study examining effective school practices that are important for the achievement of African American learners. The study will use a mixed methods approach, collecting quantitative data through surveys administered to freshman students at a historically black college and qualitative data through focus group interviews. The quantitative research questions examine how former high schools were rated on effective school criteria and the relationship between those ratings and student achievement in developmental math courses. The qualitative questions explore how various effective school practices like instructional leadership and high expectations were implemented. The significance of the study and a review of relevant literature are provided to support examining school leadership strategies that could improve academic achievement, especially among African American students.