COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 143
July 21, 2004
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 be awarded
to school divisions that demonstrate a partnership agreement with a Virginia
institution of higher education and/or other 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 fiscal year
2004-2005.
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 July 30, 2004, to develop and implement a
school leadership development preparation program;
2. technical assistance meeting for interested
school personnel and partnering institution of higher education representatives
on August 16, 2004, in the Richmond area;
3. development and submission of proposals in
accordance with attached submission instructions, to the Department of
Education on or before September 10, 2004; and
4. notification of grant recipients by October
1, 2004. Funds available from
grants awarded on October 1, 2004, may be retroactive to July 1, 2004. Criteria
for evaluating proposals are attached.
Interested applicants will be able to discuss specific issues during the
technical assistance meeting scheduled for August 16, 2004.
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, (telliott@pen.k12.va.us)
at (804) 371-2522 or Dr. JoAnne Y. Carver, director of teacher education, (jcarver@mail.vak12ed.edu) at
(804) 371‑2475.
JLD:tae
Attachments
/administrators/superintendents_memos/2004/inf143a.pdf
/administrators/superintendents_memos/2004/inf143b.pdf