Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 28 - EDUCATION
Part XLV - Bulletin 996-Standards for Approval of Teacher and/or Educational Leader Preparation Programs
Chapter 7 - Louisiana State Standards for Educator Preparation Programs
Subchapter D - Alternate Educational Leader Preparation Programs
Section XLV-747 - Educational Leader Practitioner (Residency) Program

a. possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university;

b. have three years of K-12 teaching experience and demonstrate strong knowledge of instruction through a rigorous screening process by an approved program provider in partnership with one or more hiring authorities;

c. hold or be eligible to hold a valid Louisiana type B or level 2 teaching certificate or have a comparable level out-of-state teaching certificate;

d. meet other non-course requirements established by the approved leader practitioner program:

a. All leader practitioner candidates will participate in an initial institute training that will build skills in the areas of instructional, organizational, and personal leadership. The standards for educational leaders in Louisiana will serve as the basis of the curriculum. The institute will provide a balanced curriculum that includes learning opportunities grounded in practical experience, theory, and research. Topics to be addressed include but are not limited to the following: leading with a vision, using data to lead school improvement, creating and leading effective school teams, building a high-performance learning culture and professional learning communities, and leading and learning with technology. acquired knowledge and skills will be utilized in the planning of residency experiences with a residency supervisor, who is assigned by the program provider. In addition, participants will begin developing their portfolio and educational leadership development plan.

b. The initial session will include a minimum of 135 contact hours (or 9 credit hours).

a. Candidates assume positions as administrative interns (with responsibilities equivalent to that of an assistant principal). The hiring authority pays the candidate's salary.

b. Interns will serve in at least two different schools, and will experience a full range of activities associated with all phrases of school administration. In school experiences should provide for a minimum of 125 days in the school.

c. During the school year, candidates participate in weekly sessions provided by the program provider and in four seminars (two during the first semester and two during the second semester) that address immediate needs of the practitioner leader. Weekly sessions and seminars should provide for a minimum of 60 contact hours (or 4 credit hours).

d. Practitioner leaders receive one-on-one supervision through a residency supervisor provided by the program providers.

e. Practitioner leaders will receive support from a school-based principal mentor identified by the hiring authority and the program provider, and a principal coach provided by the program provider. Hiring authorities and providers will collaborate to identify appropriate site for placement of an intern at a school and with a strong principal who serves as the school-based mentor. Additionally, the provider identifies and trains principal coaches (e.g., former principals, retired principals) who support one or more candidates.

a. All leader practitioner candidates will participate in a follow-up institute training that will continue to build skills in the areas of instructional and organizational leadership. The Standards for Educational Leaders in Louisiana will serve as the basis of the curriculum. The institute will provide a balanced curriculum that includes learning opportunities grounded in practical experience, theory, and research. Topics to be addressed include but are not limited to the following: leading a focused drive toward student achievement, organizing the learning environment, and ethical leadership. In addition, program participants will finalize their portfolio and educational leadership development plan.

b. The second session will include 135 contact hours (or 9 credit hours).

a. Program providers, mentor principals, and principal coaches form teams to review mid-year performance of practitioner leaders and determine the extent to which the practitioner leader has demonstrated educational leadership proficiency. If weaknesses are cited, teams will identify additional types of support to address areas of needs.

b. Program providers, mentor principals, and principal coaches form teams to review end-of-program performance of practitioner leaders and determine the extent to which the aspiring leader has demonstrated educational leadership proficiency and readiness for the educational leader level 1 certification.

a. passed the school leaders licensure assessment;

b. completed all program coursework (sessions and school year) and the residency;

c. completed prescriptive plans (if weaknesses were demonstrated);

d. demonstrate readiness for the educational leader based on performance against the standards for educational leaders in Louisiana and approved program provider indicators of skills needed for educational leader success;

e. completed an educational leadership development plan (an individualized learning plan that outlines areas of development in each of the standards for educational leaders in Louisiana;

f. completed a portfolio demonstrating skills needed to collaborate with teachers and use data to increase student achievement; successfully observe, evaluate, and provide feedback to teachers to improve student achievement; and lead the school or a portion of the school through a change process that helps to build a positive school community.