COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 50
March 4, 2005
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne
DeMary Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Competitive
School Division Grants for Leadership Development Programs |
The 2004 Virginia General Assembly appropriation for
Financial Assistance for General Education included $500,000 the first year and
$500,000 the second year for competitive grants of $100,000 each to school
divisions that have a partnership agreement with a Virginia institution of
higher education or another entity for a defined leadership development
preparation program that addresses the leadership standards established by the Board
of Education. Standards and guidelines
for school divisions to use to apply for these grants will include the Virginia
Licensure Regulations for School Personnel, July 1, 1998, (8VAC 20-21-580)
and the Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria
for Teachers, Administrators, and Superintendents, January 6, 2000. Five competitive grants totaling up to
$100,000 each will be awarded for the fiscal year 2005-2006.
In an effort to assist school divisions with additional
information about the school leadership initiative funded by the General
Assembly, the following dates have been established for interested school
division personnel:
1. submission of a competitive grant proposal
intent form (attached) by March 15, 2005, to develop and implement a
school leadership development preparation program;
2. technical assistance meeting for school
personnel and partnering institution of higher education representatives on March
29, 2005, in the Richmond area;
3. development and submission of proposals in
accordance with attached submission instructions, to the Department of
Education on or before April 15, 2005; and
4. notification of grant recipients by May 31,
2005. Funds available from grants
awarded on May 31, 2005, will be effective July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006.
Criteria for evaluating proposals are attached. Interested applicants will be able to discuss specific issues
during the technical assistance meeting scheduled for March 29, 2005.
The 2002 Virginia General Assembly agreed to HJR 20
and SJR 58 to establish a 21-member Commission to Review, Study and Reform
Educational Leadership. Acknowledging
that effective leadership is inextricably linked to excellence in public
education and student achievement in our public schools, the resolutions cite
the Standards of Accreditation designation of the principal as the
instructional leader of the school[who is] responsible for effective school
management that promotes positive student achievement, a safe and secure
environment in which to teach and learn, and efficient use of resources.
In January 2002 Virginia was one of only 15 National State Action for Educational Leadership Project (SAELP) grant recipients from the Wallace Readers Digest Funds addressing school leadership. This three-year grant was implemented in cooperation with the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute (CEPI) at Virginia Commonwealth University on behalf of the Department of Education and the commonwealth. The purpose of the SAELP grant was to support research and policy development to aid the preparation of school leaders. Recently, The Wallace Foundation awarded Virginia a grant to support the second phase of Virginias State Action for Education Leadership Project (SAELP II). This SAELP II grant and the Virginia General Assembly appropriations are designed to reform educational leadership and establish the school principal as the instructional leader.
For more information regarding the school leadership
development grants to be awarded to school divisions which demonstrate a
partnership agreement with a Virginia institution of higher education or other
entity, please contact Dr. Thomas A. Elliott, assistant superintendent for
teacher education and licensure, (Thomas.Elliott@doe.virginia.gov)
at (804) 371-2522 or Dr. JoAnne Y. Carver, director of teacher education and
teacher quality enhancement, (JoAnne.Carver@doe.virginia.gov)
at (804) 371‑2475.
JLD:tae
Attachments
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2005/inf050a.pdf
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2005/inf050b.pdf