The Commission on School-Based Administration appointed in Maryland in 1985 examined six factors bearing on the effectiveness of the principalship: (1) the role and function of the principal, (2) preparation programs, (3) certification requirements, (4) selection practices, (5) professional development practices, and (6) evaluation practices. This booklet presents the commission's report. The first of the booklet's eight sections introduces the report, describing the charge to the commission, the commission's organization of its task, and the organization of the report. The second section reviews the role and function of the principalship; the commission used its recommendations on this topic as the guiding rationale for its deliberations in the remaining topic areas. Sections 3 through 7 are devoted to the five remaining topics listed above. Each of these sections introduces its topic, establishes the relationship between its topic and the topics of other sections, lists the major issues considered, briefly describes existing practices, and states the commission's recommendations and their administrative and fiscal implications. Section 8 summarizes the 48 recommendations, indicating whether program, regulatory, or financial solutions are indicated. The report also includes a letter of transmittal, acknowledgments, a list of commission members, and an executive summary, as well as supporting figures and tables. (PGD)