MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Education; Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Tollison
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL LEADERS EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SLED) WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE AN INDEPENDENTLY RESEARCH-BASED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR LEADERS IN K-12 SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS AT NO COST TO THE PARTICIPANTS; TO PROVIDE FOR PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY; TO PROVIDE STANDARDS FOR THE PROGRAM; TO ESTABLISH A SCHOOL LEADERS EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO SELECT THE ENTITY TO DELIVER AND EVALUATE THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Establishment of an independently Research-Based Professional Development Program for leaders in K-12 school districts, required participation. (1) There is established within the State Department of Education an Independently Research-Based Professional Development Program, named the Mississippi School Leaders Executive Development Program (SLED). The State Superintendent of Education, with the approval of the State Board of Education, shall assign sufficient staff members from the State Department of Education to the SLED program.
(2) The SLED Board established in Section 8 of this act, with the approval of the State Board of Education, shall select a national Independently Research-Based Professional Development entity to deliver and provide training at no cost to the educator or the district to be offered to local school leaders. Leaders with zero (0) to five (5) years of experience will be required to attend and veteran leaders with over five (5) years of experience may attend for licensure renewal. Successful completion of all components of the Mississippi School Leaders Executive Development Program (SLED) will include an option to add five (5) additional years to a standard license for veteran administrators with over five (5) years of experience. The additional five (5) years will be added during the next renewal cycles. Funding for the Mississippi School Leaders Executive Development Program (SLED) shall be subject to the extent of appropriations.
SECTION 2. Definitions. The following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) "School leader" means an individual who:
(i) Possesses an administrator's license issued by the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development;
(ii) Serves as a licensed principal, assistant principal, superintendent, assistant superintendent, program director, administrative leadership intern, or other district level administrator;
(iii) Has served between zero (0) to five (5) years in a leadership position or six (6) years and up in a veteran leadership position.
(b) "Veteran school leader" means an individual who:
(i) Possesses an administrator's license issued by the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development;
(ii) Serves as a licensed principal, assistant principal, superintendent, assistant superintendent, program director, administrative leadership intern, or other district level administrator; and
(iii) Has over five (5) years of experience.
(c) "New school leader" means an individual who:
(i) Possesses an administrator's license issued by the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development;
(ii) Serves as a licensed principal, assistant principal, superintendent, assistant superintendent, program director, administrative leadership intern, or other district level administrator; and
(iii) Has over zero (0) to five (5) years of experience.
(d) "Independently Research-Based Professional Development Program" means a program with proven research-based principles that consists of an integrated series of focused, intensive learning opportunities with significant application experiences for school and district leaders. Programs supported by proven research provide confirmed opportunities to build leadership capacity to positively impact the school environment.
SECTION 3. Eligibility. An individual who has been appointed to a school or district leadership position within a Mississippi School District within the past five (5) years shall be required to participate beginning on or after July 1, 2015. New school leaders shall complete the program provided for in Section 5 of this act within three (3) years of appointment as a principal, assistant principal, administrative leadership intern, superintendent, assistant superintendent, program director, or other district level administrator.
SECTION 4. Requirements. (1) All new leaders appointed to a school or district position shall complete the program within a three-year period of time. This program will be available to leaders who meet the following qualifications and are selected through an application and interview process:
(a) Currently employed in a Mississippi school system;
(b) Valid Class AA Mississippi educator license;
(c) Minimum three (3) years of teaching experience;
(d) Any other document required by the Mississippi School Leaders Executive Program Development Board.
(2) The selection process for program participants will include the following steps:
(a) A screening team will review application packets, conduct interviews, and select participants for the program.
(b) Selected participants will receive notification of acceptance into the program electronically, or via U.S. Postal Service.
(c) Following receipt of notification, participant should fill out and submit the repayment agreement form, which outlines the rules and guidelines for program compliance and repayment for failure to complete program requirements.
(d) Selected participants will then receive final confirmation electronically, or via U.S. Postal Service.
(e) Selected participants must demonstrate a commitment to complete the program.
(3) The program will also be available to veteran leaders with six (6) or more years of experience in a leadership position within the state on a voluntary basis if slots are available. Upon successful completion of the Mississippi School Leaders Executive Development Program (SLED), a certificate for licensure renewal with an option to renew for an additional five (5) years will be offered when all other licensure renewal requirements are complete. After completion of the SLED program, yearly coaching sessions will be required as part of the additional five-year licensure renewal. The sessions will focus on site-specific improvements and enhancements based on school/district data.
(4) The Independently Research-Based Professional Development Program for School Leaders will be available beginning July 1, 2015, for school leaders identified in accordance with Section 1 of this act.
(5) The Mississippi School Leaders Executive Development Program (SLED), must be completed within three (3) years of July 1, 2015. In the event that the school leader is unable to access the program because all available slots are filled, the administrator may request an extension of the compliance period from the School Leaders Executive Development (SLED) Board.
(6) Veteran school leaders will have the option to add an additional five (5) years to a standard license upon successful completion of the Mississippi School Leaders Executive Development Program (SLED) and all other licensure renewal requirements.
(7) Any person failing to complete the Mississippi School Leaders Executive Development Program, as the case may be, shall become immediately liable to the Mississippi Legislature for the sum of all SLED awards made to that person, plus all interest accrued at the current Stafford Loan rate at the time the person abrogates his participation in the program.
(8) Any person failing to complete his leadership obligation, as required under subsection (4) of this section, shall become liable immediately for the sum of all professional development awards made to that person less the corresponding amount of any awards for which service has been rendered, plus all interest accrued at the current Stafford Loan rate at the time the person discontinues his service, except in the case of a deferral of debt for cause by the SLED Board. After the period of such deferral, such person shall begin or resume leadership duties as required under subsection (4) of this section or shall become liable to the SLED board under this subsection. If a claim for payment under this subsection is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection, the obligor shall be liable for an additional amount equal to a reasonable attorney's fee.
(9) The Independently Research-Based Professional Development Program must be a national external evaluator that is recognized and has a proven record of success based on multiple data sets including student achievement, school climate and improved practices of leaders at all levels. They must also possess the necessary skills experiences as well as the capacity to conduct this evaluation leadership study and have existing knowledge of principal evaluation in Mississippi and other states.
(10) Any decisions about loan repayments, deferments, and other related matters will be made by the SLED Board.
(11) The Mississippi School Leaders Executive Development Program (SLED) will begin no later than September 1, 2015.
SECTION 5. Program standards. (1) The Mississippi School Leaders Executive Development Program (SLED) shall be designed and offered at no cost to any individual serving in a school or district leadership role, and no cost to their employer. This independently Research-Based Professional Development Program shall be designed to aid in the development of the core school leadership standards and best practices identified in Section 5(2), (3), (4) and (5) of this act. System development funds will not be available; therefore, a program that includes proven multistate independently research-based professional development must be fully developed and ready for implementation.
(2) The Mississippi School Leaders Executive Development Program (SLED) should address the magnitude of the nation's leadership challenge at scale. The program will include a rigorous, coherent and comprehensive training component. There are two (2) major elements that should be considered within the delivery approach: (a) the executive development training, and (b) an instructional coaching model. The program should have well-documented training, with an extensive curriculum that includes a participant manual, a library of professional books and articles, online curriculum, a facilitator guide and tools, an instructional leadership instrument and participant implementation tools. The program shall have demonstrated results in raising student achievement in elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, struggling schools, rural schools and in many geographical regions.
(3) Mississippi School Leadership Standards. The following research-based professional development standards are aligned with the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium Standards (ISLLC) and will form the basis of the program. The curriculum must also include goals and standards that include the following:
(a) The knowledge and skills to think and plan strategically to create and an organizational vision around personalized student success.
(b) An understanding of standards-based systems theory and design and the ability to transfer the knowledge to the school or system leader's job as the architect of standards-based reform in the school.
(c) The ability to access and use appropriate data to inform decision-making at all levels of the system.
(d) Creating a culture of teaching and learning with an emphasis on learning.
(e) Managing resources for effective results.
(f) Collaborating, communicating, engaging and empowering others inside and outside of the organization to pursue excellence in learning.
(g) Operating in a fair and equitable manner with personal and professional integrity.
(h) Advocating for children and public education in the larger political, social, economic, legal and cultural context.
(i) Supporting professional growth of self and others through practice and inquiry.
(4) Best practices for school leaders. Professional development provided under this section will utilize best practices from the research to address the needs of new and veteran school leaders. This includes the following:
(a) Culture and team building. Effective leaders articulate and maintain the culture, and in so doing, build and hold together a team.
(b) Data-driven organizations. While the standards-based reform movement has turned schools attention to performance and accountability, businesses have long focused on results and on looking at data to drive decisions.
(c) Importance of systems. Effective leaders should be able to use their skills to design systems that connect with the school and districts goals and priorities.
(d) Instructional coaching. Teachers need to be able to monitor and improve their own performance. Coaching will give them the support that is needed to sustain improvements.
(e) Strategic thinking. Leaders should be able to create an environment where a vision is collaboratively shaped and shared.
(5) Best practices for adult learners. The program will have strong content, and be delivered in a way to increase the learning of participants consistent with best practices in adult learning. These practices include:
(a) Use of cohorts: Participation in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).
(b) Job-embedded learning: Professional development that is grounded in the actual work that school leaders do.
(c) Use of simulations: Incorporating the use of computer-based simulations enable participants to apply their learning to life-like situations.
(d) Extended period of study: Implementing a process that allows leaders to take small programs of study over an extended period of time, with a focus on research to support sustainability, increases integration of new practices.
SECTION 6. Sustainability. The Independently Research-Based Professional Development Program must have a sustainability component that includes coaching and follow-up experiences that are appropriately structured and that offer site-specific problem solving to enhance school/district performance and to continue to develop leadership skills.
SECTION 7. Program evaluation. The professional development program will be evaluated by an external evaluator that possesses the following characteristics at a minimum:
(a) Nationally recognized as an expert in evaluating school leadership improvement/enhancement with a focus on student achievement.
(b) Adequate expert staffing with a proven track record on the national level.
(c) Appropriate and adequate resources to deliver results in a timely, professional and useful manner.
(d) An understanding of and experience with student assessment and databases of various types.
(e) Preference will be given to a nationally recognized external evaluator that has had significant successful experience with educator effectiveness including principal and teacher effectiveness, the Teacher Incentive Fund Program, and student assessment results within Mississippi.
SECTION 8. Advisory board. (1) There is created the School Leaders Executive Development Board (SLED).
(a) The board shall be composed of individuals who have established a commitment to ensuring that teachers and leaders possess the skill and knowledge necessary to lead schools effectively. The duties of the board are to provide program guidance, identify research-based professional development opportunities, select an external evaluator, and submit a report to the Mississippi Legislature on the status of the program annually in December. The SLED Board will issue certificates of completion to those leaders who successfully complete the outlined program, and make decisions about compliance and noncompliance with the process. The SLED Board will be responsible for determining the application process for participants in the program if funding is not adequate to provide the program for all eligible participants in accordance with Section 4 of this act. The SLED Board will also approve all participants selected for the program and will oversee the repayment of funds from those participants who do not fulfill the obligations of the program. The SLED Board will be the final authority in all matters pertaining to the operation of the program.
(2) The SLED Board shall have a chairman and vice chairman. The board shall meet when called by the chairman, but in no event fewer than three (3) times per year. The members of the board shall be compensated at the per diem rate authorized by Section 25-3-69 and reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses as authorized by Section 25-3-41. The chairman will call and notice the date and time of the first meeting to take place no later than July 15, 2015.
(3) The SLED Board shall consist of eleven (11) qualified members, to be appointed as follows:
(a) One (1) member appointed by the Governor.
(b) One (1) member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.
(c) One (1) member appointed by the Speaker of the House.
(d) Two (2) members appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education, one (1) each from the State Board of Education and Educator Licensure Commission.
(e) One (1) member appointed by the Mississippi Association of School Administrators (MASA).
(f) One (1) member appointed by the Mississippi Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP).
(g) One (1) member appointed by the Mississippi Association of Elementary School Principals (MAESP).
(h) One (1) member appointed by the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents (MASS).
(i) One (1) member from Mississippi PTA.
(4) All controversies involving the issuance of a Mississippi school leaders certificate of completion shall be heard by the SLED Board.
(5) All controversies involving the renewal of a certificate shall be heard by the commission, as defined in Section 37-3-2 (10).
SECTION 9. Program costs. All costs and expenses for preparing and conducting the Mississippi School Leaders Executive Development Program (SLED) provided in this act shall be paid out of any funds which are made available upon appropriation by the Legislature.
SECTION 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.