Section 16-6I-4 Phases of Program; Implementation and Evaluation.
The provision sets out phased school leadership program requirements, including planning, mentoring, training, evaluation, and implementation timelines.
Commencing with the 2023-2024 school year, the design team shall develop the program in three phases, with increasing complexity and accountability, and implemented in the following stages: (1) Commencing with the 2023-2024 school year, each school administrator shall develop a comprehensive professional learning plan to be implemented beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, and in each subsequent school year thereafter. In addition to required professional learning units, the plan shall include an additional five days of high-quality professional learning targeted to building skills for school leadership as identified in the annual professional learning plan. The department shall publish a list of acceptable professional learning programs, or otherwise approve professional learning experiences for this purpose aligned to the Alabama Standards for School Leadership and Principal Leadership framework including, but not limited to, a menu of microcredentials, additional in-person academies, field experiences, and other advanced work. Each professional learning plan shall include at least one goal related to student academic growth or achievement, or both, and at least one goal for school climate. School administrators in elementary schools shall participate in early literacy and numeracy professional learning recommended by the superintendent for their individual schools as part of their high-quality professional learning plan. (2) Commencing with the 2024-2025 school year, each new principal shall work with a principal mentor for two consecutive years. A principal mentor shall be selected based on his or her successful experience as a school leader and commitment to developing principal mentees in school leadership. A training program for principal mentors shall be developed, or selected, by the design team. (3) No later than the fall of 2025, a year-long leadership academy shall be developed by the design team. The leadership academy shall be aligned to the Alabama Standards for School Leadership and Principal Leadership framework. (4) No later than the fall of 2025, the design team, in partnership with a national expert, shall develop an evaluation system for all participating school administrators. The evaluation system shall be aligned to the Alabama Standards for School Leadership and Principal Leadership framework and shall include measures of student growth and achievement and all of the following domains for principal effectiveness: a. Visionary leadership. b. Instructional leadership. c. Innovative leadership. d. Managerial leadership. e. Relational leadership. (5) No later than July 1, 2024, the design team shall recommend to the superintendent a schedule for implementation of the program so that all principals shall have the opportunity to begin the program not later than the 2029-2030 school year.