La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § XLV-747

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section XLV-747 - Educational Leader Practitioner (Residency) Program

A. State-approved non-university providers and Louisiana colleges or universities may choose to offer an educational leader practitioner (residency) program for certifying successful candidates for educational leader, level 1 certification. (Two additional alternate paths are available to individuals seeking an educational leader certificate level 1; see LAC 28:CXXXI. Chapter 7 (Bulletin 746), for paths 1 and 2.) Educational leader practitioner program providers must submit a program proposal to the Louisiana Department of Education. Programs will be reviewed for adherence to program requirements, and may be recommended to BESE for approval status.

1. Admission to the Program. Program providers work with local educational agency or state/ school system-approved charter school personnel to identify educational leader practitioner program candidates who will be employed by the local educational agency or approved charter school (hereinafter referred to as hiring authority). For admission, candidates must:

a. possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university;

b. have three years of K-12 teaching experience and demonstrate strong knowledge of instruction through a rigorous screening process by an approved program provider in partnership with one or more hiring authorities;

c. hold or be eligible to hold a valid Louisiana type B or level 2 teaching certificate or have a comparable level out-of-state teaching certificate;

d. meet other non-course requirements established by the approved leader practitioner program:

i. candidates will be chosen using a rigorous selection process designed to determine the potential of candidates as school leaders. The screening process for each cohort will involve a multi-phase process that includes, as a minimum, a written application, recommendations, and interviews.

2. Leader Preparation (First Session)

a. All leader practitioner candidates will participate in an initial institute training that will build skills in the areas of instructional, organizational, and personal leadership. The standards for educational leaders in Louisiana will serve as the basis of the curriculum. The institute will provide a balanced curriculum that includes learning opportunities grounded in practical experience, theory, and research. Topics to be addressed include but are not limited to the following: leading with a vision, using data to lead school improvement, creating and leading effective school teams, building a high-performance learning culture and professional learning communities, and leading and learning with technology. acquired knowledge and skills will be utilized in the planning of residency experiences with a residency supervisor, who is assigned by the program provider. In addition, participants will begin developing their portfolio and educational leadership development plan.

b. The initial session will include a minimum of 135 contact hours (or 9 credit hours).

3. Principal Residency and Support (School Year)

a. Candidates assume positions as administrative interns (with responsibilities equivalent to that of an assistant principal). The hiring authority pays the candidate's salary.

b. Interns will serve in at least two different schools, and will experience a full range of activities associated with all phrases of school administration. In school experiences should provide for a minimum of 125 days in the school.

c. During the school year, candidates participate in weekly sessions provided by the program provider and in four seminars (two during the first semester and two during the second semester) that address immediate needs of the practitioner leader. Weekly sessions and seminars should provide for a minimum of 60 contact hours (or 4 credit hours).

d. Practitioner leaders receive one-on-one supervision through a residency supervisor provided by the program providers.

e. Practitioner leaders will receive support from a school-based principal mentor identified by the hiring authority and the program provider, and a principal coach provided by the program provider. Hiring authorities and providers will collaborate to identify appropriate site for placement of an intern at a school and with a strong principal who serves as the school-based mentor. Additionally, the provider identifies and trains principal coaches (e.g., former principals, retired principals) who support one or more candidates.

4. Leader Preparation (Second Session)

a. All leader practitioner candidates will participate in a follow-up institute training that will continue to build skills in the areas of instructional and organizational leadership. The Standards for Educational Leaders in Louisiana will serve as the basis of the curriculum. The institute will provide a balanced curriculum that includes learning opportunities grounded in practical experience, theory, and research. Topics to be addressed include but are not limited to the following: leading a focused drive toward student achievement, organizing the learning environment, and ethical leadership. In addition, program participants will finalize their portfolio and educational leadership development plan.

b. The second session will include 135 contact hours (or 9 credit hours).

i. An approved program provider may choose to provide a portion of the second session curriculum and contact hours during the first session or academic school year.

ii. A minimum of 45 contact hours (or three credit hours) must be provided during the second session.

iii. The provider must provide evidence that the curriculum topics have all been addressed and that the required contact hours/credit hours have been met by the end of the second session.

iv. A minimum of 45 contact hours (or 3 credit hours) may be earned through service as a mentor teacher or content leader in accordance with LAC 28:CXXXI (Bulletin 746), during the first or second session.

5. Practitioner Leader Performance Review (Mid-Year and End of Program)

a. Program providers, mentor principals, and principal coaches form teams to review mid-year performance of practitioner leaders and determine the extent to which the practitioner leader has demonstrated educational leadership proficiency. If weaknesses are cited, teams will identify additional types of support to address areas of needs.

b. Program providers, mentor principals, and principal coaches form teams to review end-of-program performance of practitioner leaders and determine the extent to which the aspiring leader has demonstrated educational leadership proficiency and readiness for the educational leader level 1 certification.

6. Total Hours Required. Minimum of 330 contact hours of coursework (22 credit hours) and minimum of 125 days serving as practitioner leader (administrative intern).

7. Passage of School Licensure Exam. Have a passing score on the school leaders licensure assessment (SLLA) in accordance with state requirements.

8. Program requirements must be met by the end of the second session. For certification purposes, approved providers will submit signed statements to the Department of Education indicating that the student completing the Educational Leader Practitioner Program performance-based certification path met the following requirements:

a. passed the school leaders licensure assessment;

b. completed all program coursework (sessions and school year) and the residency;

c. completed prescriptive plans (if weaknesses were demonstrated);

d. demonstrate readiness for the educational leader based on performance against the standards for educational leaders in Louisiana and approved program provider indicators of skills needed for educational leader success;

e. completed an educational leadership development plan (an individualized learning plan that outlines areas of development in each of the standards for educational leaders in Louisiana;

f. completed a portfolio demonstrating skills needed to collaborate with teachers and use data to increase student achievement; successfully observe, evaluate, and provide feedback to teachers to improve student achievement; and lead the school or a portion of the school through a change process that helps to build a positive school community.

9. On-Going Support (second and third year). Program providers will give support services to educational leaders who have completed the practitioner leader program and are serving as school leaders during their second and third years in the program.

10. Professional License. Upon completion of all requirements of the program, the candidate will receive an educational leader level 1 license.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § XLV-747

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 431333 (7/1/2017), Amended LR 45229 (2/1/2019), Amended LR 50679 (5/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:6(A)(10), (11), and (15), 17:7(6), 17:10, 17:22(6), 17:391.1-391.10, and 17:411.