The School District will develop and maintain a new principal mentoring program that satisfies the requirements established by State law. The program will be required for all individuals who are hired as a principal on or after July 1, 2007 and are either in the first school year of employment as a principal, if employment began prior to January 1st of that school year or those in the second school year of employment if the employment as a principal began on or after January 1st of a prior school year except for those individuals who have previously served as an assistant principal with an administrative certificate for five (5) or more years and who are hired, on or after July 1, 2007, as a principal in the district where the individual last served as an assistant principal.

A new principal is defined as assistant principal in Illinois who was hired as a principal in a new school district, and individuals who were principals in other states and are hired as a principal in Illinois regardless of the amount of experience.

The mentoring program is to operate under rules established by the State Board of Education.

A mentor will be assigned to a new principal based on the following factors:

A recognized mentor is an individual who has been an Illinois principal for three (3) or more years and has completed mentor training.

Each mentor and new principal must complete a survey of progress on Form 1520.01 F1 by January 15th of the school year.

The District may act jointly with other school districts and their exclusive representatives to develop its induction and mentoring program.

The District may contract with an institution of higher education or other independent party to assist in implementing the program.

The purpose of the induction and mentoring program is to assist new principals to develop the skills and strategies necessary in order to provide instructional excellence.

On an annual basis, the State Superintendent of Education shall determine whether appropriations are likely to be sufficient to require the operation of the mentoring program for the coming year.

Any individual who is first hired on or after July 1, 2008 may participate in a second year of mentoring if it is determined by the State Superintendent of Education that sufficient funding exists for such participation.

The program will be implemented in the District beginning with the 2007-2008 school year.

Implementation of the program assumes funding provided by the State Board of Education.

105 ILCS 5/2-3.53a
35 IL. Adm. Code 35.10 et seq.

Adopted 5/12/08
Revised 6/23/09
Revised 1/11/10