95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB1950

 

Introduced 2/7/2008, by Sen. Edward D. Maloney

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/2-3.53a

    Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning principals.


LRB095 15261 NHT 41246 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1950 LRB095 15261 NHT 41246 b

1     AN ACT concerning education.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
5 2-3.53a as follows:
 
6     (105 ILCS 5/2-3.53a)
7     Sec. 2-3.53a. New principal mentoring program.
8     (a) Beginning on July 1, 2007, and and subject to an annual
9 appropriation by the General Assembly, to establish a new
10 principal mentoring program for new principals. Any individual
11 who is hired as a principal in the State of Illinois on or
12 after July 1, 2007 shall participate in a new principal
13 mentoring program for the duration of his or her first year as
14 a principal and must complete the program in accordance with
15 the requirements established by the State Board of Education by
16 rule or, for a school district created by Article 34 of this
17 Code, in accordance with the provisions of Section 34-18.27 of
18 this Code. School districts created by Article 34 are not
19 subject to the requirements of subsection (b), (c), (d), (e),
20 (f), or (g) of this Section. The new principal mentoring
21 program shall match an experienced principal who meets the
22 requirements of subsection (b) of this Section with each new
23 principal in his or her first year in that position in order to

 

 

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1 assist the new principal in the development of his or her
2 professional growth and to provide guidance during the new
3 principal's first year of service.
4     (b) Any individual who has been a principal in Illinois for
5 3 or more years and who has demonstrated success as an
6 instructional leader, as determined by the State Board by rule,
7 is eligible to apply to be a mentor under a new principal
8 mentoring program. Mentors shall complete mentoring training
9 by entities approved by the State Board and meet any other
10 requirements set forth by the State Board and by the school
11 district employing the mentor.
12     (c) The State Board shall certify an entity or entities
13 approved to provide training of mentors.
14     (d) A mentor shall be assigned to a new principal based on
15 (i) similarity of grade level or type of school, (ii) learning
16 needs of the new principal, and (iii) geographical proximity of
17 the mentor to the new principal. The principal, in
18 collaboration with the mentor, shall identify areas for
19 improvement of the new principal's professional growth,
20 including, but not limited to, each of the following:
21         (1) Analyzing data and applying it to practice.
22         (2) Aligning professional development and
23     instructional programs.
24         (3) Building a professional learning community.
25         (4) Observing classroom practices and providing
26     feedback.

 

 

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1         (5) Facilitating effective meetings.
2         (6) Developing distributive leadership practices.
3         (7) Facilitating organizational change.
4 The mentor shall not be required to provide an evaluation of
5 the new principal on the basis of the mentoring relationship.
6     (e) On or after January 1, 2008 and on or after January 1
7 of each year thereafter, each mentor and each new principal
8 shall complete a survey of progress on a form developed by
9 their respective school districts. On or before July 1, 2008
10 and on or after July 1 of each year thereafter, the State Board
11 shall facilitate a review and evaluate the mentoring training
12 program in collaboration with the approved providers. Each new
13 principal and his or her mentor must complete a verification
14 form developed by the State Board in order to certify their
15 completion of a new principal mentoring program.
16     (f) The requirements of this Section do not apply to any
17 individual who has previously served as an assistant principal
18 in Illinois acting under an administrative certificate for 5 or
19 more years and who is hired, on or after July 1, 2007, as a
20 principal by the school district in which the individual last
21 served as an assistant principal, although such an individual
22 may choose to participate in this program or shall be required
23 to participate by the school district.
24     (g) The State Board may adopt any rules necessary for the
25 implementation of this Section.
26 (Source: P.A. 94-1039, eff. 7-20-06.)