SB 2825

Abstract

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish a new principal mentoring program to allow experienced principals to serve as mentors to new principals during their first year as a principal. Provides for an alternative route to administrative certification for certain National Board certified teachers. Provides that continuing professional development for renewal of an administrative certificate must include (i) completion of an Administrators' Academy course in each of the 6 Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium standard areas in the first 5 years of serving as an administrator in a position that requires certification and (ii) if the certificate holder evaluates certified staff, completion of a one-day teacher evaluation course and participation in an additional 6 hours of Administrators' Academy-approved coursework. Deletes a provision requiring certificate holders who evaluate certified staff to complete a 2-day teacher evaluation course. Creates a teacher leader endorsement and sets forth requirements for that endorsement. Requires the State Board to certify one statewide organization representing principals, with input from institutions of higher education, and one school district or organization representing principals in the Chicago school district, with input from institutions of higher education, to establish a master principal designation program. Sets forth requirements for the program. Establishes a task force to review the Illinois Administrators' Academy and recommend revisions to the program. Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year and each school year thereafter, requires each school district to establish a principal evaluation plan. Sets forth requirements for the evaluation plan and provides that failure to evaluate a principal at least once during the term of the principal's contract is evidence that the principal is performing his or her duties and responsibilities in at least a satisfactory manner and serves to automatically extend the principal's contract for a period of one year after the contract would otherwise expire, under the same terms and conditions as the prior contract. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.