98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB2859

 

Introduced , by Rep. Elaine Nekritz

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/24A-15

    Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the development of an evaluation plan for principals and assistant principals.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB2859LRB098 08126 NHT 38217 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
524A-15 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/24A-15)
7    Sec. 24A-15. Development of evaluation plan for principals
8and assistant principals.
9    (a) Each school district, except for for a school district
10organized under Article 34 of this Code, shall establish a
11principal and assistant principal evaluation plan in
12accordance with this Section. The plan must ensure that each
13principal and assistant principal is evaluated as follows:
14        (1) For a principal or assistant principal on a
15    single-year contract, the evaluation must take place by
16    March 1 of each year.
17        (2) For a principal or assistant principal on a
18    multi-year contract under Section 10-23.8a of this Code,
19    the evaluation must take place by March 1 of the final year
20    of the contract.
21    On and after September 1, 2012, the plan must:
22        (i) rate the principal's or assistant principal's
23    performance as "excellent", "proficient", "needs

 

 

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1    improvement" or "unsatisfactory"; and
2        (ii) ensure that each principal and assistant
3    principal is evaluated at least once every school year.
4    Nothing in this Section prohibits a school district from
5conducting additional evaluations of principals and assistant
6principals.
7    (b) The evaluation shall include a description of the
8principal's or assistant principal's duties and
9responsibilities and the standards to which the principal or
10assistant principal is expected to conform.
11    (c) The evaluation for a principal must be performed by the
12district superintendent, the superintendent's designee, or, in
13the absence of the superintendent or his or her designee, an
14individual appointed by the school board who holds a registered
15Type 75 State administrative certificate.
16    Prior to September 1, 2012, the evaluation must be in
17writing and must at least do all of the following:
18        (1) Consider the principal's specific duties,
19    responsibilities, management, and competence as a
20    principal.
21        (2) Specify the principal's strengths and weaknesses,
22    with supporting reasons.
23        (3) Align with research-based standards established by
24    administrative rule.
25    On and after September 1, 2012, the evaluation must, in
26addition to the requirements in items (1), (2), and (3) of this

 

 

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1subsection (c), provide for the use of data and indicators on
2student growth as a significant factor in rating performance.
3    (c-5) The evaluation of an assistant principal must be
4performed by the principal, the district superintendent, the
5superintendent's designee, or, in the absence of the
6superintendent or his or her designee, an individual appointed
7by the school board who holds a registered Type 75 State
8administrative certificate. The evaluation must be in writing
9and must at least do all of the following:
10        (1) Consider the assistant principal's specific
11    duties, responsibilities, management, and competence as an
12    assistant principal.
13        (2) Specify the assistant principal's strengths and
14    weaknesses with supporting reasons.
15        (3) Align with the Illinois Professional Standards for
16    School Leaders or research-based district standards.
17    On and after September 1, 2012, the evaluation must, in
18addition to the requirements in items (1), (2), and (3) of this
19subsection (c-5), provide for the use of data and indicators on
20student growth as a significant factor in rating performance.
21    (d) One copy of the evaluation must be included in the
22principal's or assistant principal's personnel file and one
23copy of the evaluation must be provided to the principal or
24assistant principal.
25    (e) Failure by a district to evaluate a principal or
26assistant principal and to provide the principal or assistant

 

 

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1principal with a copy of the evaluation at least once during
2the term of the principal's or assistant principal's contract,
3in accordance with this Section, is evidence that the principal
4or assistant principal is performing duties and
5responsibilities in at least a satisfactory manner and shall
6serve to automatically extend the principal's or assistant
7principal's contract for a period of one year after the
8contract would otherwise expire, under the same terms and
9conditions as the prior year's contract. The requirements in
10this Section are in addition to the right of a school board to
11reclassify a principal or assistant principal pursuant to
12Section 10-23.8b of this Code.
13    (f) Nothing in this Section prohibits a school board from
14ordering lateral transfers of principals or assistant
15principals to positions of similar rank and salary.
16(Source: P.A. 96-861, eff. 1-15-10; 97-217, eff. 7-28-11.)