Studies show that school functioning and student achievement often suffer when effective principals leave their schools. Past research has identified five main reasons principals leave their jobs: (1) inadequate preparation and professional development, (2) poor working conditions, (3) insufficient salaries, (4) lack of decision-making authority, and (5) ineffective accountability policies. This study from the Learning Policy Institute and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) draws on evidence from focus groups to better understand the challenges principals face and highlight strategies that can support principals and increase their retention. Focus group participants identified multiple strategies, including high-quality professional learning opportunities, support from strong administrative teams with adequate school-level resources, competitive salaries, appropriate decision-making authority, and evaluations characterized by timely and formative feedback.