This section defines terms used in the chapter, including school roles, school categories, mentoring, professional learning, and the program itself.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. An individual who is certified for the position of assistant principal, as prescribed by the board, and who is employed full-time by a local board of education as an administrator of a public school to assist the principal in managing and leading the school. This term includes a Career and Technical Education Building Administrator, Alternative School Administrator, or similar position approved by the State Department of Education, who is housed full-time at a standalone facility who assists with overseeing the day-to-day schedule and operations in that facility and helps supervise teachers at that facility in a full-time capacity. (2) BOARD. The State Board of Education. (3) DEPARTMENT. The State Department of Education. (4) DESIGN TEAM. The group of individuals appointed to design the Alabama Principal Leadership Development System including, but not limited to, school leadership standards, principal leadership framework, design of a leadership academy, ongoing professional learning, mentoring, evaluation system, or any other aspect the design team determines necessary for the growth and development of successful school administrators. (5) HIGH-POVERTY SCHOOL. A school that has a direct certification of free and reduced federal lunch student percentage of 75 percent or greater as determined by the most recent data posted. (6) LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOL. Any school that is identified as a Comprehensive Support and Improvement School, a school with a D or F grade as defined by the Alabama Education Report Card, Chapter 6C, or a full support school as defined by the Alabama Literacy Act, Chapter 6G, or the Alabama Numeracy Act, Chapter 6H. (7) MENTORING. A long-term relationship between a new principal mentee and a trained principal mentor that fosters the professional, academic, or personal development of the principal mentee. (8) NEW PRINCIPAL. A principal who is serving in his or her first or second year as a principal. (9) PRINCIPAL. An individual who is certified for the position of principal, as prescribed by the board, and who is employed full-time by a local board of education as the chief school administrator of a public school. The term includes a Career and Technical Education Building Administrator, Alternative School Administrator, or similar position approved by the State Department of Education, who is housed full-time at a standalone facility, oversees the day-to-day schedule and operations in that facility, and supervises teachers at that facility in a full-time capacity. (10) PRINCIPAL MENTEE. A new principal who is participating in a mentoring relationship with a more experienced principal through which the principal may further define and articulate core values, grow instructional leadership competencies, and develop professional confidence. (11) PRINCIPAL MENTOR. An experienced school administrator who guides new principals in defining and articulating core values, growing instructional leadership competencies, and developing professional confidence. (12) PROFESSIONAL LEARNING. A comprehensive, sustained, job-embedded, and collaborative approach to improving the effectiveness of principals in elevating student achievement through professional study. (13) PROFESSIONAL LEARNING UNIT. A content-driven, long-term unit of professional study for instructional leaders that fully addresses all knowledge and ability indicators under at least one of the Alabama Standards for School Leaders, or a professional study that constitutes a professional learning unit that requires multiple professional learning experiences over time and is aligned with the Alabama Standards for School Leadership, the Principal Leadership framework, and the Alabama Standards for Professional Learning. (14) PROGRAM. The Alabama Principal Leadership Development System created by this chapter. (15) SCHOOL. A public school located in the state and providing instruction in grades preK-12, or any configuration of those grades. (16) SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR. Includes principals and assistant principals. (17) SUPERINTENDENT. The State Superintendent of Education.