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.