SB0235eng 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0235 Engrossed LRB096 04037 NHT 14075 b

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections 2-3.53a and 21-7.10 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.53a)

Sec. 2-3.53a. New principal mentoring program.

(a) Beginning on July 1, 2007, and subject to an annual appropriation by the General Assembly, to establish a new principal mentoring program for new principals. Any individual who is first hired as a principal in the State of Illinois on or after July 1, 2007 shall participate in a new principal mentoring program for the duration of his or her first year as a principal and must complete the program in accordance with the requirements established by the State Board of Education by rule or, for a school district created by Article 34 of this Code, in accordance with the provisions of Section 34-18.27 of this Code. School districts created by Article 34 are not subject to the requirements of subsection (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), or (g) of this Section. Any individual who is first hired as a principal on or after July 1, 2008 may participate in a second year of mentoring if it is determined by the State Superintendent of Education that sufficient funding exists for such participation. The new principal mentoring program shall match an experienced principal who meets the requirements of subsection (b) of this Section with each new principal in his or her first year in that position in order to assist the new principal in the development of his or her professional growth and to provide guidance during the new principal's first year of service.

(b) Any individual who has been a principal in Illinois for 3 or more years and who has demonstrated success as an instructional leader, as determined by the State Board by rule, is eligible to apply to be a mentor under a new principal mentoring program. Mentors shall complete mentoring training by entities approved by the State Board and meet any other requirements set forth by the State Board and by the school district employing the mentor.

(c) The State Board shall certify an entity or entities approved to provide training of mentors.

(d) A mentor shall be assigned to a new principal based on (i) similarity of grade level or type of school, (ii) learning needs of the new principal, and (iii) geographical proximity of the mentor to the new principal. The principal, in collaboration with the mentor, shall identify areas for improvement of the new principal's professional growth, including, but not limited to, each of the following:

(1) Analyzing data and applying it to practice.

(2) Aligning professional development and instructional programs.

(3) Building a professional learning community.

(4) Observing classroom practices and providing feedback.

(5) Facilitating effective meetings.

(6) Developing distributive leadership practices.

(7) Facilitating organizational change. The mentor shall not be required to provide an evaluation of the new principal on the basis of the mentoring relationship.

(e) On or after January 1, 2008 and on or after January 1 of each year thereafter, each mentor and each new principal shall complete a survey of progress on a form developed by their respective school districts. On or before July 1, 2008 and on or after July 1 of each year thereafter, the State Board shall facilitate a review and evaluate the mentoring training program in collaboration with the approved providers. Each new principal and his or her mentor must complete a verification form developed by the State Board in order to certify their completion of a new principal mentoring program.

(f) The requirements of this Section do not apply to any individual who has previously served as an assistant principal in Illinois acting under an administrative certificate for 5 or more years and who is hired, on or after July 1, 2007, as a principal by the school district in which the individual last served as an assistant principal, although such an individual may choose to participate in this program or shall be required to participate by the school district.

(g) The State Board may adopt any rules necessary for the implementation of this Section.

(h) On an annual basis, the State Superintendent of Education shall determine whether appropriations are likely to be sufficient to require operation of the mentoring program for the coming year. In doing so, the State Superintendent of Education shall first determine whether it is likely that funds will be sufficient to require operation of the mentoring program for individuals in their first year as principal and shall then determine whether it is likely that funds will be sufficient to require operation of the mentoring program for individuals in their second year as principal.

(Source: P.A. 94-1039, eff. 7-20-06.)

(105 ILCS 5/21-7.10)

Sec. 21-7.10. Master principal designation program.

(a) The General Assembly recognizes the important role a principal serves as a school's instructional leader and believes it is in the best interest of the State to establish a mechanism for training, mentoring, and recognizing master level principals.

(b) The State Board of Education shall certify statewide organizations representing principals, institutions of higher education, and regional offices of education and one school district or organization representing principals in a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code to establish a master principal designation program if these entities meet the criteria established by the State Board. These entities shall work with a statewide design team made up of institutions of higher education, regional offices of education, statewide organizations, and other appropriate entities, as determined by the State Board, to conceptualize the master principal designation program. The State Board shall select, through a competitive application process, a statewide entity or entities to receive funds appropriated for the purpose of providing a program under this Section. The State Board shall adopt rules, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, for entities seeking to provide a program under this Section, including an approval process and other criteria. A master principal designation program aligned with the Illinois Professional Leadership Standards shall include at least the following components:

(1) Expansion of the principal's knowledge base and leadership.

(2) Application of strategies and collection of evidence of student learning and school processes.

(3) Demonstration of the ability and skills necessary to lead sustained academic improvement in a school or district.

(c) An individual serving as a principal for at least 3 years is eligible for participation in a master principal designation program. Each year, those entities approved to offer a master principal designation program must submit to the State Board a report indicating the number of individuals enrolled in the program, the progress of candidates, anticipated changes to the program, and any other relevant information requested by the State Board. All substantive changes to an entity's master principal designation program shall require prior written approval from the State Board. An entity that fails to meet the requirements of this Section or any other criteria established by the State Board by rule shall have its authority to offer a master principal designation program revoked pursuant to procedures established by rule by the State Board.

(d) In this Section, "master principal designation program" shall also be known as the Illinois Distinguished Principal Leadership Institute.

(Source: P.A. 94-1039, eff. 7-20-06.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.