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 Improve Student 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 Statewide Assessment & Coordination Recommendation 4: Establish a rigorous certificate exam Utilize School Leaders Licensure Assessment & School Superintendent Assessment (ETS)

Goal Three: Improve Statewide Assessment & 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 Statewide Assessment & 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 NBCTs 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

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