School Leadership Development Program

(1) As used in this section, "school leader" means a school principal or assistant principal. (2) There is created the School Leadership Development Program to increase the supply of highly effective school leaders capable of: (a) initiating, achieving, and sustaining school improvement efforts; and (b) forming and sustaining community partnerships as described in Section 53F-5-402. (3) The state board shall identify one or more providers, through a request for proposals process, to develop or provide leadership development training for school leaders that: (a) may provide in-depth training in proven strategies to improve springboard schools and elevate schools; (b) may emphasize hands-on and job-embedded learning; (c) aligns with the state's leadership standards established by state board rule; (d) reflects the needs of a school district or charter school where a school leader serves; (e) may include training on using student achievement data to drive decisions; (f) may develop skills in implementing and evaluating evidence-based instructional practices; (g) may develop skills in leading collaborative school improvement structures, including professional learning communities; and (h) includes instruction on forming and sustaining community partnerships as described in Section 53F-5-402. (4) Subject to legislative appropriations, the state board shall provide incentive pay to a school leader who: (a) completes leadership development training under this section; and (b) agrees to work, for at least five years, in a school that ranked in the lowest performing 20% of schools under the school accountability system in the school year previous to the first year the school leader: (i) completes leadership development training; and (ii) begins to work, or continues to work, in a school described in this Subsection (4)(b). (5) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the state board shall make rules specifying: (a) eligibility criteria for a school leader to participate in the School Leadership Development Program; (b) application procedures for the School Leadership Development Program; (c) criteria for selecting school leaders from the application pool; and (d) procedures for awarding incentive pay under Subsection (4).