S 837 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To develop a generation of school leaders who are committed to, and effective in, increasing student achievement and to ensure that all low-income, under-performing schools are led by effective school leaders who are well-prepared to foster student success.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

March 9, 2007

Mrs. CLINTON introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To develop a generation of school leaders who are committed to, and effective in, increasing student achievement and to ensure that all low-income, under-performing schools are led by effective school leaders who are well-prepared to foster student success.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Improving the Leadership and Effectiveness of Administrators for Districts Act of 2007' or the `I LEAD Act of 2007'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. SCHOOL LEADERSHIP.

(a) Findings- Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) In the next 5 years, the number of openings for school principals is expected to grow by 20 percent and the number of principals retiring is likely to see a marked increase. The resulting principal shortage is expected to pose the greatest challenge for urban and rural local educational agencies with large concentrations of high-poverty and under-performing schools, as those local educational agencies often attract the fewest new principals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Literature from the American Educational Research Association concludes that school leadership has significant effects on student learning. School leaders can have positive effects on student achievement, primarily by galvanizing effort around ambitious goals and by establishing conditions that support teachers and help students succeed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) School leaders, especially in under-performing schools, are typically unprepared to foster student success, as the leaders themselves do not receive the proper support, resources, and professional development needed to become effective leaders.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) A 2003 Public Agenda report found that 72 percent of superintendents and 67 percent of principals agree that the typical leadership training that administrators receive does not give administrators `what it takes to run today's school district'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) State educational leaders currently lack concrete benchmarks against which school leaders can be measured to determine adequacy. State educational agencies and local educational agencies also lack the funds necessary to recruit, train, and maintain successful school leaders.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) School Leadership- Section 2151(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6651(b)) is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) School Leadership-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) PURPOSES- The purposes of this subsection are--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) to develop a generation of school leaders who are committed to, and effective in, increasing student achievement; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) to ensure that all under-performing schools are led by well-trained, well-supported, effective school leaders.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) NATIONAL PRINCIPAL RECRUITMENT PROGRAM-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary is authorized to establish and carry out a national principal recruitment program to assist high-need local educational agencies in recruiting and training principals (including assistant principals) through such activities as--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) providing financial incentives to aspiring new principals;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) providing stipends to principals who--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) have a demonstrated record of effectiveness; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(II) mentor new principals;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) carrying out professional development programs in instructional leadership and management; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iv) providing incentives that are appropriate for teachers or individuals from other fields who want to become principals and that are effective in retaining new principals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) GRANTS- The Secretary shall carry out this paragraph by making grants, on a competitive basis, to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) high-need local educational agencies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) consortia of high-need local educational agencies; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) partnerships of high-need local educational agencies, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) EVALUATION AND MODEL SCHOOL LEADERSHIP ZONE IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall establish a national competitive grant program to award grants to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) to carry out research-based evaluations described in subparagraph (D) examining the effectiveness of current State requirements for school leader certification or licensure in recruiting, training, and retaining effective school leaders who improve student achievement at schools that receive funding under part A of title I;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) to develop plans described in subparagraph (E) to build upon the State school leader certification or licensure process; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) to create model school leadership zones in accordance with subparagraph (F) by implementing such plans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) AMOUNT OF GRANTS- The amount of a grant under this paragraph shall be based on a formula developed by the Secretary that takes into consideration--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) the size of the school-age population served by the eligible entity; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) the availability of additional resources to support the implementation of the evaluation and the changes to the State certification or licensure process.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) APPLICATION- An eligible entity desiring a grant under this paragraph shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. The application shall demonstrate that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) the results of the evaluation under subparagraph (D) will be used to drive changes in the State certification or licensure process if necessary; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) the eligible entity is well-positioned to implement a successful evaluation, as determined by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) a strong commitment to school leadership among the local school superintendents, teachers, parents, and the local community, including private sector and higher education leaders; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(II) an ability to leverage additional funding to carry out the evaluation as well as the recommendations made as a result of the evaluation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) EVALUATION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) IN GENERAL- An eligible entity receiving a grant under this paragraph shall use grant funds to contract with an external agency that is experienced in conducting qualitative research to carry out a research-based evaluation of the school leader certification or licensure process in effect in the State as of the time of the evaluation, and the effect of such process on student achievement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) DEVELOPMENT- The evaluation described in clause (i) shall be developed in collaboration with groups such as--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) veteran school leaders with track records of demonstrated gains in student achievement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(II) institutions of higher education involved with school leadership development located within the State; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(III) organizations that represent school leaders.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) MEASUREMENT- The evaluation described in clause (i) shall include a measurement of the following student achievement indicators for the State:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) Student achievement on the State academic assessments described in section 1111(b)(3).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(II) Secondary school graduation rates, if applicable.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(III) The degree of family and community involvement in the schools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(IV) Retention rates for school leaders, particularly in schools that have not made adequate yearly progress (as defined in section 1111(b)(2)(C)) for 1 or more of the school years following the date of enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-110).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(V) School safety, including decreases in the number of suspensions and expulsions, and other crime reporting done by the schools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(VI) Student and teacher attendance rates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(VII) Any other factor that the Secretary determines necessary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iv) SUBMISSION OF EVALUATION- After the completion of the evaluation under this subparagraph, an eligible entity receiving a grant under this paragraph shall submit a copy of the evaluation to the Secretary for approval under clause (v).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(v) APPROVAL- The Secretary shall review an evaluation submitted under clause (iv), and shall approve or reject the evaluation based on the extent the evaluation meets the criteria described in this subparagraph.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) BUILDING UPON STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL LEADER CERTIFICATION OR LICENSURE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) IN GENERAL- In the case of an eligible entity receiving a grant under this paragraph whose evaluation under subparagraph (D) demonstrates that the school leader licensing or certification process of the State does not yield school leaders who are effective in improving student achievement, as measured by the student achievement indicators described in subparagraph (D)(iii), the eligible entity, in collaboration with the groups described in subparagraph (D)(ii), shall develop a plan to build upon the existing State certification or licensure processes for school leaders and improve the effectiveness of school leaders based on data from the evaluation developed under this paragraph.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) CONTENT- The plan described under clause (i) may include the following for potential school leaders:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) Experimental training programs for individuals within the teaching profession and from other fields to enable individuals to become effective school leaders.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(II) Incentives to encourage veteran and new school leaders to lead low-income, under-performing schools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(III) Ongoing professional development programs with track records of demonstrated goals in student achievement for all school leaders.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(IV) Ongoing support, including being partnered for the first 2 years after the individual obtains a school leader license or certificate with a mentor who is a school leader with a demonstrated record of effectiveness to help design and implement a plan to improve student achievement at the new school leader's school.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(V) Additional, specialized training for new principals leading schools with high populations of students with disabilities or students with limited English proficiency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(VI) Any other requirements the eligible entity developing the plan determines necessary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(F) SCHOOL LEADERSHIP ZONE IMPLEMENTATION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) REQUIRED ACTIVITIES- An eligible entity that receives a grant under this paragraph and that is required to develop a plan under subparagraph (E) shall use grant funds to create a model school leadership zone by implementing the plan developed by the eligible entity in an urban high-need local educational agency participating in the consortium described in paragraph (6)(A) and in a rural high-need local educational agency participating in such consortium.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) REPORT- Not later than 60 days after the last day of the grant period, an eligible entity that is required to carry out the activity described in clause (i) shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an analysis of the effectiveness of the model school leadership zone, based on evidence of the program's impact on the student achievement indicators described in subparagraph (D)(iii).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) STUDY ON EFFECTIVENESS OF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP ZONES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) IN GENERAL- Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of the Improving the Leadership and Effectiveness of Administrators for Districts Act of 2007, the Secretary shall enter into a contract with an external agency experienced in conducting qualitative research to conduct a study, in consultation with representatives of the high-need local educational agencies participating in the school leadership zones described in this subsection, evaluating the effectiveness of the school leadership zones developed under paragraph (3)(F) in the recruitment, training, and retraining of school leaders, as well as the effects of such zones on student achievement, as compared to the effectiveness of school leaders at similar schools served by local educational agencies not participating in the school leadership zones described in this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION- The criteria for the evaluation under subparagraph (A) shall be based on the student achievement indicators described in paragraph (3)(D)(iii).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) GRANTS FOR REPLICATING SCHOOL LEADERSHIP ZONES AND AMENDING SCHOOL LEADER CERTIFICATION OR LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall award a grant to each eligible entity that received a grant under paragraph (3) and successfully created a model school leadership zone, as determined by the study under paragraph (4), to enable the eligible entity to use the data and research gathered and analyzed by the Secretary under paragraph (4) to revise the school leader certification or licensure process of the State in order to replicate the practices of the model school leadership zone in other local educational agencies within the State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) APPLICATION- An eligible entity that received a grant under paragraph (3) and that desires to receive a grant under this paragraph shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) AMOUNT OF GRANT- In determining the amount of a grant under this paragraph, the Secretary shall increase the grant amount for each eligible entity that created a successful model school leadership zone under paragraph (3)(G) that also demonstrated significant positive impact on student achievement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) REPORT- Not later than 60 days after the last day of the grant period, an eligible entity receiving a grant under this paragraph shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a report regarding the effectiveness of the program under this paragraph.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) DEFINITIONS- In this subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) ELIGIBLE ENTITY- The term `eligible entity' means a State educational agency working in partnership with a consortium of high-need local educational agencies, which consortium shall include not less than 1 rural high-need local educational agency and not less than 1 urban high-need local educational agency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) SCHOOL LEADER- The term `school leader' means a principal or assistant principal.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) UNDER-PERFORMING SCHOOL- The term `under-performing school' means an elementary school or secondary school that has failed to make adequate yearly progress, as defined in section 1111(b)(2)(C), for 1 or more consecutive school years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(7) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated, to enable the Secretary to carry out this subsection and to award not less than a total of 10 grants under paragraphs (3) and (5) for each of 5 consecutive years, such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Conforming Amendment- Section 2103(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6603(b)) is amended by inserting `(except for section 2151(b))' after `subpart 5'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink