Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 6, March 18, 2024
(a) To be eligible for the principal CE, the candidate shall:
1. Complete one of the following:
i. Hold a master's degree in educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, or one of the recognized fields of leadership or management from an accredited college or university;
ii. Hold a master's degree from an accredited college or university and complete a graduate-level program in educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, or one of the recognized fields of leadership or management; or
iii. Hold a master's degree from an accredited program in educational leadership from an out-of-State college or university;
2. Complete a 300-hour internship in educational leadership aligned to the Professional Standards for School Leaders and in accordance with the roles and responsibilities as a principal, independent of other course requirements. This internship either shall appear on a transcript from a four-year accredited college or university or be certified by a Commissioner-approved program for preparing school principals;
3. Pass a Department-approved examination of knowledge acquired through study aligned to the Professional Standards for School Leaders and most directly related to the functions of principals at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-12.3(b); and
4. Complete five years of successful educational experience under a valid provisional or standard New Jersey certificate or equivalent out-of-State certificate.
(b) A candidate who matriculates and enrolls in a Commissioner-approved educational leadership preparation program on or after September 1, 2008, shall be required to complete all requirements at (a) above.
(c) To be eligible for a provisional certificate with a principal endorsement, the candidate shall:
1. Hold a principal CE; and
2. Obtain and accept an offer of employment in a position requiring the principal endorsement in a school or school district that has agreed formally to sponsor the residency.
(d) The effective date of provisional certificate issuance shall be the date on which the CE holder begins employment with the district board of education in a certified position, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:26-2.
(e) The Commissioner-approved principal residency program provider shall notify the Office that a principal is eligible for the standard administrative certificate with a principal endorsement when the candidate:
1. Possesses a provisional certificate pursuant to (a) and (c) above;
2. Completes a two-year Commissioner-approved residency program while employed under a provisional certificate with a principal endorsement in a school or school district. However, the Commissioner is authorized to reduce or remove the residency requirement based on the candidate's prior experience;
3. Has been reviewed by the mentor pursuant to (i) below and is recommended for the standard certificate pursuant to (j) below; and
4. Has paid to the program provider any fees that may be required by the Department to cover the cost of the training and mentoring services.
(f) The Commissioner-approved program provider selected by the employing school or school district shall implement the residency program, which shall:
1. Take place in a school or school district;
2. Provide professional experiences, training, mentoring, instruction, opportunities to network with other candidates and experienced principals, and specific training on the school's or school district's educator evaluation systems;
3. Develop the candidate's thorough understanding of the NJSLS, the Professional Standards for Teachers, and the Professional Standards for School Leaders;
4. Ensure the employing school or school district, the candidate, the Department-approved mentor, and the provider enter into a standard Department-issued agreement prior to the candidate starting the residency program;
5. Provide a Department-approved mentor who meets the below requirements:
i. Have a minimum of three years' experience as an effective principal. "Effective" means the principal has received a summative rating of "effective" or "highly effective," pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:10-5, in at least three years of service in a position requiring a principal endorsement;
ii. Have been engaged in New Jersey public schools for at least three of the last five school years; and
iii. Complete a State-approved mentor training program.
(g) The mentor from the program provider shall:
1. Supervise and verify the candidate's completion of all required experiences and training;
2. Meet with the principal candidate at least once a month during the residency. The mentor shall be available on a regular basis to provide assistance or advice upon the candidate's request;
3. Provide confidential guidance and support;
4. Guide the candidate through a self-assessment based on the employing school district's Commissioner-approved principal evaluation practice instrument;
5. Consult with the principal candidate's direct supervisor in development of the principal candidate's individualized mentoring plan;
6. Not serve as the candidate's direct supervisor or conduct the candidate's evaluation; and
7. Provide support based on an individualized mentoring plan developed collaboratively by the mentor, the candidate, and the candidate's supervisor.
(h) The mentoring plan shall take the place of the individualized professional development plan, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9C-3, during the residency period. The mentoring plan shall be individualized based on the candidate's preparation, past work experience, and the unique leadership demands of the employing school or school district. Support for the candidate in the following areas shall be considered in developing the individualized plan:
1. Curriculum leadership;
2. Supervision of instruction;
3. Student personnel services;
4. Personnel management;
5. Community relations;
6. Student relations;
7. Facilities management;
8. School finance;
9. School law;
10. Technical administrative skills; and
11. Professional development.
(i) The Commissioner-approved program provider shall base the recommendation for the standard administrative certificate with a principal endorsement on at least three reviews conducted by the mentor in each year of the two-year residency for a minimum of six reviews.
1. The first five reviews shall be conducted mainly for diagnostic purposes.
2. The final review shall be the basis for issuance of the candidate's standard certificate. The final review shall be aligned with the Professional Standards for School Leaders and informed by the candidate's performance on all prior reviews.
3. The Commissioner-approved program provider shall ensure the principal candidate's direct supervisor is consulted regarding the candidate's performance prior to submitting the candidate's final review to the Department on a State-developed form.
(j) The Commissioner-approved program provider shall recommend for approval or disapproval principal candidates for certification pursuant to the following procedures:
1. The Commissioner-approved program provider shall submit to the Office a comprehensive final report on the candidate's performance review pursuant to (i) above.
2. This final report shall include one of the following certification recommendations:
i. Approved: Recommends issuance of a standard certificate;
ii. Insufficient: Recommends a standard certificate not be issued, but the candidate be allowed to continue the residency or seek admission to another residency for two additional years; or
iii. Disapproved: Recommends a standard certificate not be issued and the candidate who is disapproved shall be prevented from continuing or re-entering a residency.
3. Candidates who receive a recommendation of "approved" shall be issued a standard certificate.
(k) A candidate who receives a "partially effective" or "ineffective" evaluation or two or more "ineffective" evaluations may appeal to the Board of Examiners pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-4.13.
(l) Each candidate who holds a valid New Jersey or out-of-State supervisor endorsement and a master's degree or higher in a field other than one required at (a)1 above shall be eligible for a principal CE by submitting official documentation of the following to the Department:
1. Five years of successful full-time experience as a supervisor of an instructional area or department related to the NJSLS under a valid New Jersey or out-of-State supervisor certificate;
2. Completion of a Commissioner-approved certification program in educational leadership offered by a Commissioner-approved provider. The program shall include, but not be limited to:
i. Preparation for educational leadership through experiences related to the performance-based Professional Standards for School Leaders and the NJSLS;
ii. Two hundred twenty-five clock hours of formal instruction in quality components of preparation to promote student learning as set forth in the Professional Standards for School Leaders; and
iii. A school district internship consisting of a minimum of 300 hours providing professional experiences in school administration; and
3. Passage of a State-approved examination of knowledge acquired through study aligned with the Professional Standards for School Leaders and directly related to the functions of principals at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-12.3(b).
(m) Each candidate who holds a valid New Jersey or out-of-State supervisor endorsement and a master's degree or higher in a field not required at (a)1 above, but has zero to five years' supervisory experience, will be eligible for a principal CE by submitting to the Department official documentation of the following:
1. Five years of successful full-time teaching experience under a valid New Jersey or out-of-State teaching certificate;
2. Completion of a Commissioner-approved certification program in educational leadership offered by a Commissioner-approved provider. The program shall contain the same elements as at (j)2 above. However, the program shall consist of a minimum of 275 clock hours and a 300-hour internship; and
3. Passage of a State-approved examination of knowledge acquired through study aligned with the Professional Standards for School Leaders and directly related to the functions of principals as defined at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-12.3(b).
(n) Each candidate with at least five years of successful full-time teaching experience under a valid New Jersey or out-of-State teaching certificate and a master's degree or higher in a field other than one required at (a)1 above will be eligible for a principal CE by submitting to the Department official documentation of the following:
1. Completion of a Commissioner-approved certification program in educational leadership offered by a Commissioner-approved provider. The program shall contain the same elements as at (j)2 above. However, the program shall consist of a minimum of 300 clock hours and a 300-hour internship; and
2. Passage of a State-approved examination of knowledge acquired through study aligned with the Professional Standards for School Leaders and directly related to the functions of principals as defined at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-12.3(b).
