Approved induction programs - initial principal licensees

(1) Any approved induction program of a school district or districts, charter school, the institute, or nonpublic school for initial principal licensees may include, but is not limited to, supervision by mentor principals; ongoing professional development and training, including ethics; and performance evaluations. Such school district or districts, charter school, the institute, or nonpublic school may enter into agreements with accepted institutions of higher education in regard to the organization, management, and operation of an approved induction program, or any portion thereof. The school district's or districts' performance evaluations must be conducted in accordance with section 22-9-106; however, the state board of education may provide by rule for performance evaluations by mentor principals. (2) The approved induction program of any individual initial principal licensee may be extended if deemed necessary by the school district or districts, charter school, the institute, or nonpublic school providing such program; however, such program shall not exceed a maximum of three years. (3) (a) The state board of education shall, by rule and regulation, establish standards and criteria for the approval of proposed induction programs for initial principal licensees and for the review of approved induction programs for initial principal licensees. Such rules and regulations shall provide for such standards and criteria to be fully implemented on and after July 1, 1999, and shall provide for the gradual implementation of such standards and criteria over the five-year period prior to said date. Such standards and criteria shall, at a minimum, provide multiple approaches and options in regard to the provision of approved induction programs which take into consideration factors which the state board of education deems appropriate. Such factors shall include, but shall not be limited to, the setting categories and geographical location of school districts, the costs of providing approved induction programs, and the availability of state moneys to fund, in whole or in part, approved induction programs. (b) Repealed.