Section 35.20   Annual Program Planning; Fiscal Provisions

a)         No later than May 1 of each year, each district superintendent shall report to the State Superintendent of Education, or to the State Superintendent's designee, the number of first-year principals who are expected to be working in the district in the coming school year and required to participate in the mentoring program.  No later than June 30, each district superintendent shall update this information with the names, administrative certificate numbers, and assigned schools of the individuals chosen.

b)         Based on the number of first-year principals expected statewide and the level of available funding foreseen, the State Superintendent shall determine whether the appropriation is likely to be sufficient to require operation of the mentoring program in the coming year.  This calculation shall be based on a cost figure of $2,000 for each first-year principal in the program plus the cost of delivering the required training, coordinating the mentors' assignments, and providing the other necessary structure and support for the program.  The program shall be implemented in a given year only if sufficient funds are available based on these cost factors.

c)         As soon as possible after the level of the appropriation for a given year has been established, the State Superintendent shall notify the affected districts and the providers approved under Section 35.60 of this Part regarding whether the program will operate in the coming year.

d)         No later than June 15 prior to a school year during which the program will be in operation, each experienced principal who intends to serve as a mentor shall notify the State Superintendent or designee of his or her availability, supply the required documentation of eligibility (see Section 35.40 of this Part), and, if employed in a school or in a regional office of education, provide verification in a format specified by the State Superintendent of supervisory approval for his or her participation.  The State Superintendent or designee shall:

1)         publicize the list of approved providers so that individuals who need to complete the required training can do so and be included in the pool of available mentors; and

2)         make the list of those who have expressed intent available to the approved providers so that these individuals can be given priority in admission to the required training over others who may wish to complete the training simply for its value as professional development.

e)         When verification is received in accordance with the requirements of Section 35.30(h) of this Part that a mentor has provided the service required under this Part, the State Superintendent of Education or designee shall make a payment in the amount of $2,000 either to the approved provider that facilitated the mentoring relationship for disbursement to the mentor or directly to the mentor if requested by the provider.

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 17768, effective October 30, 2008)