Prospects for making formal principal preparation programs more relevant to actual administrator experience are described in this Digest. First, some of the deficiencies of traditional preparation programs are outlined. Next, ways in which shared decision making and decentralization have affected principals' preservice training needs are described. Subsequent sections discuss the application of problem-based learning to educational administrator training programs, the need for strategic thinking skills, and the importance of collaboration among state agencies, school districts, professional associations, and other agencies for fundamental change. (Contains 7 references.) (LMI)