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SCHOOL LEADER PREPARATION: A BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE Submitted to the Illinois Board of Higher Education by the Commission on School Leader Preparation in Illinois Colleges and Universities Presented by Co-Chairs Cordelia Meyer Dianne Ashby August 15, 2006.
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SCHOOL LEADER PREPARATION: A BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE Submitted to the Illinois Board of Higher Education by the Commission on School Leader Preparation in Illinois Colleges and Universities Presented by Co-Chairs Cordelia Meyer Dianne Ashby August 15, 2006
Commission Background • Established by IBHE in August 2005 • Comprised of leaders from K-12 schools, colleges & universities, business & professional education organizations, ISBE, IBHE • Charge • Review Educating School Leaders (Levine, 2006) • Examine school leader preparation in IL • Propose strategies for improving preparation
School Leaders CAN ImproveStudent Achievement • Student achievement in Illinois is in crisis • School effectiveness research tells us how to improve schools & learning • Illinois must improve preparation programs to produce the highly qualified leaders we need to improve student achievement
Challenges Facing Illinois • Recruiting & admitting the best potential leaders • Focusing preparation programs on improving & sustaining P-12 student achievement • Ensuring quality programs
Goals • Recruit Strategically • Focus Preparation Programs • Improve Statewide Assessment & Coordination
Goal One:Recruit Strategically Recommendation 1: Restructure admission criteria & recruit high quality principals • Holistic evaluation of applicants based on attributes known to improve student learning • Targeted recruitment • Grow-your-own programs • Work with teacher education faculty
Goal Two:Focus Preparation Programs Recommendation 2: Improve programs using rigorous assessment data • Assess candidates’ capacity to be effective school leaders; counsel candidates & adjust programs as needed • Participate in Education Administration Graduate Assessment project • Provide data to the state & public • Utilize advisory groups • Establish guidelines that distinguish Ph.D. from Ed.D.
Goal Two:Focus Preparation Programs Recommendation 3: Create meaningful clinical & internship experiences • Require meaningful experiences that connect coursework to the workplace • Strengthen & utilize university-school partnerships • Train mentors • Secure funds for internships from a variety of sources • Assess internship experiences • Revise Illinois standards to align with ELCC standards • Utilize clinical faculty
Goal Three: Improve StatewideAssessment & Coordination Recommendation 4: Establish a rigorous certificate exam • Utilize School Leaders Licensure Assessment & School Superintendent Assessment (ETS)
Goal Three: Improve StatewideAssessment & Coordination Recommendation 5: Revise the certification & endorsement structure • Reserve Type 75 for principals only • Review other positions requiring Type 75 & revise requirements • Develop programs to prepare individuals for non-principal leadership positions
Goal Three: Improve StatewideAssessment & Coordination Recommendation 6: Coordinate rigorous program approval & review processes • Conduct third party review of all current programs • Develop joint approval & review processes between ISBE & IBHE • Provide IBHE with authority to recommend probation or closure of programs • Participate in national review of ELCC standards
Next Steps for IBHE IBHE should: • Ensure wide dissemination of this report • Strengthen Goal 2 of The Illinois Commitment • Fund pilot testing of innovative programs • Seek legislative support for funding clinical faculty roles • Reward programs for quality admissions & training • Require IBHE staff to provide annual updates on the progress of each recommendation • Reconvene the Commission in the fall of 2009
Next Steps for IBHE Support related-efforts currently underway: • Education Administration Graduate Assessment • Survey program graduates to improve programs • SB 860: Principal Certification • Develops a statewide mentor program • Improves state professional development program • Requires mandatory evaluations • Develops a master principal program • Develops alternative programs for NBCT’s to become principals • Develops teacher-leader endorsement programs
Conclusion • Better prepared school leaders can improve student achievement • State leaders are critical to improving the quality of school leaders & student achievement & share in the responsibility The report is available from the Illinois Board of Higher Education website, in the Reports and Studies section, at www.ibhe.org.
SCHOOL LEADER PREPARATION: A BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE Submitted to the Illinois Board of Higher Education by the Commission on School Leader Preparation in Illinois Colleges and Universities Presented by Co-Chairs Cordelia Meyer Dianne Ashby August 15, 2006