The Division for Leadership Development at the Maryland State Department of Education was created by Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick, State Superintendent of Schools, in the summer of 2000. The mission of the Division for Leadership Development is to build the instructional leadership capacity of present and potential school leaders in the content and skills needed to increase student achievement. During the past four years, the division has been responsible for providing professional growth opportunities for principals around the state, serving as the voice for principals in policy discussions, and advocating for principals in their roles as instructional leaders. As the work of this division has evolved, it has become apparent that the next step in leadership development requires the creation of a framework for instructional leadership that will drive principal preparation programs in higher education, professional development, and policy initiatives. Beginning in the summer of 2004, this draft of the Maryland Instructional Leadership Framework, created by the Division for Leadership Development, was shared with a wide variety of stakeholders in order to gain feedback, support, and commitment. The Maryland Instructional Leadership Framework describes outcomes expected of Maryland principals as they provide instructional leadership for their schools. For each outcome identified, there are evidences in practice that delineate the minimum of what we expect principals to know and be able to do if the respective leadership outcome is to be realized. The Maryland Instructional Leadership Framework will: (1) Drive the instructional leadership curriculum of the Division for Leadership Development, MSDE; (2) Guide instructional leadership professional development for veteran, new, and potential school leaders; (3) Serve as a catalyst for the alignment of professional development for Executive Officers (those who supervise and evaluate principals as defined in Code of Maryland Regulations [COMAR] 13A.01.04.02B); (4) Provide a self-assessment/reflective practice tool for principals and potential school leaders; (5) Promote dialogue in districts around matters of instructional leadership; (6) Be referenced in policy through the Code of Maryland Regulations; (7) Influence future policy decisions about the principalship; (8) Be incorporated into a part of the program approval process used by institutions of higher education to guide their principal preparation programs; and (9) Serve as the Maryland-specific evidence in practice for the instructional leadership component of the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Standards. A bibliography is included.