KRS 156.101: Purpose of section -- Definition of "instructional leader" -- Effective

instructional leadership program.

(1) The purpose of this section is to encourage and require the maintenance and

development of effective instructional leadership in the public schools of the

Commonwealth and to recognize that principals, with the assistance of assistant

principals, supervisors of instruction, guidance counselors, and directors of special

education, have the primary responsibility for instructional leadership in the schools

to which they are assigned.

(2) As used in this section, "instructional leader" means an employee of the public

schools of the Commonwealth employed as a principal, assistant principal,

supervisor of instruction, guidance counselor, director of special education, or other

administrative position deemed by the Education Professional Standards Board to

require an administrative certificate.

(3) In order to carry out the purpose of this section, the Kentucky Board of Education

shall establish a statewide program to improve and maintain the quality of effective

instructional leadership in the public schools of the Commonwealth.

(4) The effective instructional leadership program shall contain the following

provisions:

(a) Each instructiona l leader employed by the public schools of the

Commonwealth shall participate in a continuing intensive training program

designed especially for instructional leaders;

(b) Each instructional leader shall annually complete an intensive training

program approved by the Kentucky Board of Education to include no fewer

than twenty -one (21) participant hours of instruction. Hours completed by

participants in the principal leadership development practicum under KRS

156.565 may be substituted to satisfy this requirement;

(c) The Kentucky Board of Education shall prescribe specific criteria for the

training program. The Kentucky Department of Education may contract for

specific training with qualified agencies or institutions or approve programs

offered by training p roviders, including local district training programs,

except that the department shall ensure the requirements of paragraph (d) of

this subsection are met; and

(d) Annually, each local district superintendent shall report to the Kentucky

Department of Educ ation any instructional leader who fails to complete the

training requirements of paragraph (b) of this subsection and shall place the

leader on probation for one (1) year. The Department of Education shall

verify completion of the required training. If the required training for the prior

year and the current year is not completed during the probationary period, the

Department of Education shall forward the information to the Education

Professional Standards Board, which shall revoke the instructional leade r's

certificate.

(5) The Kentucky Department of Education shall ensure that training options in human

resource management and conflict resolution techniques are available to education

leaders throughout the state.

(6) This section shall be known as the Effective Instructional Leadership Act.