Public Act 096-0373
 		





HB0737 Enrolled
LRB096 04036 NHT 14074 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.