§ 53E-5-309 — 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:

(2)(a) initiating, achieving, and sustaining school improvement efforts; and
(2)(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:

(3)(a) may provide in-depth training in proven strategies to improve springboard schools and elevate schools;
(3)(b) may emphasize hands-on and job-embedded learning;
(3)(c) aligns with the state's leadership standards established by state board rule;
(3)(d) reflects the needs of a school district or charter school where a school leader serves;
(3)(e) may include training on using student achievement data to drive decisions;
(3)(f) may develop skills in implementing and evaluating evidence-based instructional practices;
(3)(g) may develop skills in leading collaborative school improvement structures, including professional learning communities; and
(3)(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:

(4)(a) completes leadership development training under this section; and
(4)(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:
(4)(b)(i) completes leadership development training; and
(4)(b)(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:

(5)(a) eligibility criteria for a school leader to participate in the School Leadership Development Program;
(5)(b) application procedures for the School Leadership Development Program;
(5)(c) criteria for selecting school leaders from the application pool; and
(5)(d) procedures for awarding incentive pay under Subsection (4).

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 164, 2023 General Session