Bill Text: IL HB2859 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

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

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2014-12-03 - Session Sine Die [HB2859 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-HB2859-Introduced.html

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

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

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

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