In 1977-78, California Assemblyman Dennis Mangers headed an Assembly Education Committee Task Force on elementary and secondary principals. The task force was established to review the adequacy of preservice training, evaluation, and continuing professional development of principals. Members addressed questions about the role of the principal, skills needed in the role, changes needed in preservice and inservice training, and ways to improve administrator effectiveness. The task force concluded that because of increased social pressures and a burgeoning number of mandated programs, the principal's role today is much more demanding. The investigation resulted in extensive findings and recommendations concerning preservice training and credentialing, principal recruitment and selection, administrator professional development, administrator support systems, and principal evaluation. The report concludes with the recommendation that a major effort must be made by state and local governments to define the role of principals, give principals adequate support and assistance, and hold principals accountable for defined tasks. A lengthy appendix presents the skills necessary for school leadership, the general criteria for the evaluation of principals, a scope and content statement for the administrative services credential, an analysis of educational programs administered by principals, and a list of task force members. (Author/JM)