161.027 Preparation program for principals -- Assessment and internship requirements

161.027 Preparation program for principals -- Assessment and internship

requirements.

(1) The Education Professional Standards Board, pursuant to KRS 161.028, shall by

administrative regulation establish requirements for a preparation program in

institutions of higher education for all new applicants for principal certification and

establish criteria for admission to the program.

(2) The Education Professional Standards Board and the Council on Postsecondary

Education shall evaluate the preparation programs for principals and maintain only

those institutional programs that can demonstrate both the quality and the capability

to enroll adequate numbers of students to justify the resources necessary for

maintenance of a quality program.

(3) The Education Professional Standards Board shall develop or select appropriate

assessments for applicants seeking certification as principals, including an

assessment of the ability to apply knowledge, instructional leadership, management,

and supervision skills.

(4) The Education Professional Standards Board shall establish the minimum score for

successful completion of assessments and shall establish a reasonable fee to be

charged applicants for the actual cost of administration of the assessments. The

Education Professional Standards Board shall provide for confidentiality of

assessment scores.

(5) The Education Professional Standards Board shall develop an internship program

which shall provide for the supervision, assistance, and assessment of beginning

principals and assistant principals. The internship shall not be required of applicants

who have completed, within a ten (10) year period prior to making application, at

least two (2) years of successful experience as a principal in a school situation. The

Education Professional Standards Board, by administrative regulation, shall

establish the internship program.

(6) The certification of principals shall require the successful completion of the

examinations required by subsection (3) of this section. A one (1) year certificate

may be given to a person who has:

(a) A comparable certificate from another state; or

(b) All other qualifications except the assessments and is selected as a principal or

assistant principal in a district where the superintendent certifies to the

Education Professional Standards Board that there is a limited number of

applicants to meet the requirements.

Upon successful completion of the assessments, a certificate shall be issued for an

additional four (4) years. A person employed in Kentucky as a principal or assistant

principal who was certified in another state and practiced in that state for two (2) or

more years is exempt from taking the assessment described in subsection (3)(a) of

this section.

(7) Upon successful completion of the approved preparation program and the

assessments, the Education Professional Standards Board shall issue to the

applicant a statement of eligibility for internship valid for five (5) years. If the

applicant does not participate in an internship program within the five (5) year

period, the applicant shall reestablish eligibility by repeating and passing the

assessments in effect at that time or by completing a minimum of six (6) graduate

hours, directly related to instructional leadership, management, or supervision, at a

regionally or nationally accredited institution. The option for renewal through

completion of graduate hours shall be available only for the first reestablishment of

eligibility. Upon obtaining employment for an internship position as principal or

assistant principal within the period of eligibility, the applicant shall be issued the

appropriate one (1) year certificate for the position.

at a

regionally or nationally accredited institution. The option for renewal through

completion of graduate hours shall be available only for the first reestablishment of

eligibility. Upon obtaining employment for an internship position as principal or

assistant principal within the period of eligibility, the applicant shall be issued the

appropriate one (1) year certificate for the position.

(8) All applicants for principal certification, after successfully completing the

assessments, shall successfully complete the internship program described in

subsection (5) of this section for principal certification. If the principal's or assistant

principal's internship performance is judged to be less than satisfactory pursuant to

administrative regulations developed by the Education Professional Standards

Board, the applicant for principal certification shall be provided with an opportunity

to repeat the internship one (1) time if the applicant is employed by a school district

as a principal or assistant principal.

(9) Following successful completion of the internship program, the principal certificate

shall be extended for four (4) years. Renewal of the certificate shall require the

completion of a continuing education requirement as prescribed by the Education

Professional Standards Board.