School Principal Leadership and Mentoring Act, amending definitions
Impact
If enacted, SB303 will impact state laws by altering eligibility criteria for financial support mechanisms aimed at enhancing leadership in schools characterized as high-poverty. The updated definition not only recognizes the economic challenges faced by students but also positions educational leadership as a key factor in addressing those challenges. This move is expected to align the support mechanisms more closely with the realities of schools serving economically disadvantaged communities, thereby fostering an environment for improved student performance.
Summary
SB303 seeks to amend the definition of a High Poverty School under the School Principal Leadership and Mentoring Act in Alabama. This bill revises specific definitions to ensure that principals and assistant principals at high-poverty schools can qualify for annual stipends based on a higher threshold for percentage of students receiving free and reduced lunches. The intent is to provide more resources and incentivize effective leadership in schools that serve a significant number of low-income students. By ensuring adequate financial incentives for school leaders, the bill aims to promote better educational outcomes.
Contention
Notable points of contention surrounding SB303 include discussions about the adequacy of the revised thresholds for what constitutes a high-poverty school. Critics may argue that the new definitions do not sufficiently address the needs of schools with varying levels of economic hardship or may overlook other critical factors that contribute to educational inequity. Additionally, there are concerns about the potential for disparities in funding and resources among different districts, which could exacerbate existing inequalities rather than alleviate them.
Public K-12 education, employment of assistant superintendents, assistant chief school finance officers, and assistant principals by contract provided for local boards of education
Fair Campaign Practices Act; definitions of electioneering communications, expenditures, and political action committee revised; reporting requirements for electioneering communications revised
Public education employees; exclusion of students from classroom, provided for; principal authorized to suspend, expel, or recommend for alternative school certain students excluded from classroom; civil and criminal immunity provided to education employees; local boards of education authorized to reimburse or compensate employees for certain legal fees; rebuttable presumption, created; Board of Education, required to adopt rules
Public preK-12 schools, chaplains; public schools, authorized to hire or accept as volunteers; local boards of education and governing bodies, required to vote on whether to allow; limitations, provided
To create the School Principal Leadership and Mentoring Act and the Alabama Principal Leadership Development System for public K-12 education; to provide for the creation and implementation of a mentoring program for new principals and a continuing professional learning program for principals and assistant principals; and to provide annual stipends for each principal and assistant principal who satisfactorily completes the program.
Recognizing The Student Officer Leadership Team And State Advisors From Across The State Of Delaware Participating In The 2022-2023 Session Of The Delaware Association Of Business Professionals Of America State Leadership Conference.
Requires Secretary of Higher Education and public institutions of higher education to develop programs for improving Hispanic and Latino representation in higher education leadership positions.