PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
House Bill 4714
Sponsor: Rep. David Farhat
Committee: Education
Complete to 5-28-03
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4714 AS INTRODUCED 5-21-03
House Bill 4714 would amend the Revised School Code to specify that professional development funds could be used by the Department of Education, intermediate school districts, and school districts for a principal leadership academy.
Under the bill, the department would establish a principal leadership academy, and it would consist of training for principals conducted by other school principals with a record of demonstrated success in improving student performance. The department would be required to solicit input from school district superintendents and intermediate school district superintendents, in order to compile a list of successful principals who would likely be effective in conducting the training at the leadership academy. The bill specifies that the department would select principals to conduct the training from the list, and that the training would be required to include all aspects of successful school leadership, including at least all of the following: i) strategies for increasing parental involvement; ii) strategies for engaging community support; iii) creative problem solving; iv) financial decision-making; v) management rights and techniques; and vi) other strategies for improving school leadership to achieve better student performance.
Currently under the law, funds appropriated by the legislature for professional development must be allocated substantially as follows: 20 percent to the Department of Education; 15 percent to intermediate school districts (on an equal amount per pupil basis based upon the memberships of constituent school districts); and 65 percent to school districts (on an equal amount per pupil basis). The funds can be used for
a) professional development programs for administrators and teachers, with an emphasis on the improvement of teaching and learning of the academic core curriculum as measured by the Michigan Educational Assessment Program and other criterion-referenced assessment; collaborative decision making; site-based management; the process of school improvement; instructional leadership; and the use of data and assessment instruments to improve teaching and learning for all students;
b) a biennial education policy leadership institute;
c) a statewide academy for school leadership established by the State Board of Education;
d) community leadership development in each school district;
e) promotion of high educational standards together with the business community;
f) sabbatical leaves for up to one academic year for selected master teachers who aid in profession development; and
g) any purpose authorized in the appropriation for professional development in the State School Aid Act.
In order to receive professional development funding, each school district and intermediate school district must submit an annual professional development plan to the State Board of Education, and the board may disapprove funding if it finds that the plan does not further core academic curriculum needs; does not constitute serious, informed innovation; is of general inferior overall quality; or does not comply with requirements under section 1526 (which concerns mentoring for beginning teachers and intensive professional development induction into teaching programs).
Under House Bill 4714, all of these provisions would be retained, and in addition, professional development funds could be used for the principal leadership academy that the department would be required to establish.
MCL 380.1525
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.