An in-depth understanding of the complexity of factors influencing school organization and development is a prerequisite for successfully responding to constant change within schools, where teachers are expected to play an integral part. This study investigates pre-service teachers’ understanding of relevant fields of school development. A sample of 951 pre-service teachers participated in this study. Findings indicate that pre-service teachers’ understanding is rather low. Even a 6-month school-based training program does not provide a deeper understanding of factors influencing school development. A competency-based training program focusing on school development is suggested.