Readiness of educational administrators for implementing management strategies for continuous environmental education development in educational institutions

The research problem and the rationale for its relevance. The core research problem lies in the insufficient preparedness of educational institution administrators to implement and effectively utilize management strategies for developing a system of continuous environmental education. This, in turn, may negatively impact the formation of fundamental foundations and the development of an ecological culture among students across all levels of general education. The relevance of the chosen topic is determined by ongoing shifts in state policy regarding environmental education, which emphasize the need to improve the content, forms, and methods of organizing the process of environmental learning and upbringing for students at all levels of general education. These changes are crucial in the context of implementing federal state educational standards, underscoring the importance of modernizing approaches to environmental education within the contemporary educational system. Under these conditions, the preparedness of educational organization leaders to implement management strategies for the development of continuous environmental education becomes paramount and requires scientific substantiation and investigation. Consequently, it is relevant to define the methodological, normative, and methodological foundations for determining the conditions for forming and diagnosing the readiness of educational organization leaders to implement these management strategies. The goal of research is to analyze the readiness of educational organization leaders to implement management strategies for the development of continuous environmental education. Methodology (Materials and Methods). The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods based on self-diagnosis to investigate leaders' preparedness. The primary sources of information were specially designed questionnaires and surveys to assess the level of professional competence among leaders in using management strategies for continuous environmental education. The quantitative method of surveying was conducted among leaders of general education organizations to gather information on the application of these management strategies. Document analysis methods were also applied, including examining the current development program as a strategic document of the educational organization. The use of these methods revealed the understanding of the leaders' readiness level, forming the basis for developing further recommendations for professional development and enhancing the effectiveness of strategy implementation. Results. The study presents the results of a survey conducted in 2025. Data on the readiness of leaders of general education organizations were obtained through self-diagnosis during the survey. The analysis revealed that the majority of participants face difficulties in implementing management strategies for continuous environmental education. Over 60% of participants indicated a need for professional development in this area. As part of the study, the “Head's Handbook for Educational Organizations: Management Strategies for Developing Continuous Environmental Education in a Regional Context” was prepared. This handbook aims to provide scientific and methodological support for leaders of general education organizations and enhance the effectiveness of their work in introducing and implementing strategies for environmental education development. The scientific novelty lies in identifying the deficit in leaders' readiness to implement management strategies for continuous environmental education based on self-diagnosis. The theoretical significance consists of identifying and clarifying the structural components of the concept readiness of leaders to implement management strategies for the development of continuous environmental education. The practical significance lies in the potential use of the results for improving training programs for leaders and the applicability of the developed "Head's Handbook for Educational Organizations" in the practice of managing the development of continuous environmental education within a regional context.