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2002 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 20
Establishing a commission to review, study and reform educational leadership.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 12, 2002
Agreed to by the Senate, March 5, 2002

WHEREAS, effective leadership is inextricably linked to excellence in public education and student academic achievement in our public schools; and

WHEREAS, the Standards of Accreditation acknowledge that the principal is the "instructional leader of the school and 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"; and

WHEREAS, the Standards of Accreditation also recognize the "critically important role of principals to the success of public schools and the students who attend those schools"; and

WHEREAS, the differing roles and responsibilities of division superintendents, principals, assistant principals, and teachers for providing a system of public education of the highest quality merit ongoing consideration and review as the Commonwealth strives to provide opportunities for learning and achievement for all students; and

WHEREAS, in pursuing efforts to continually improve educational leadership in Virginia public schools, the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute (CEPI) at Virginia Commonwealth University, on behalf of the Department of Education and the Commonwealth, sought and was awarded one of 15 National State Action for Educational Leadership Project (SAELP) grants from the Wallace Reader's Digest Funds; and

WHEREAS, CEPI held three summits on educational leadership, embracing the input of participants from the Governor’s Office, the Board of Education, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, members of the General Assembly, and educational stakeholders and practitioners; and

WHEREAS, prompted by concerns regarding the changing roles and demands of educational leaders and the shortage of educational leaders in low-performing schools, the CEPI summit recommended, among other things, the formation of a legislative commission on educational leadership; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a commission be established to review, study and reform educational leadership. The commission shall be composed of 21 members as follows: 5 members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; 3 members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; 1 president of a Virginia public four-year institution of higher education and 1 practicing assistant principal actively employed by a Virginia local school board or their designees to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; 1 dean of a school of education of a Virginia public institution of higher education or his designee to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; the Secretary of Education, the President of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia or their designees, the Executive Director of the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University, the Virginia Teacher of the Year, the 3 Virginia Principals of the Year, 1 each representing the elementary, middle, and high school levels, and the Virginia Superintendent of the Year, all to serve ex officio with full voting privileges. The chairman of the commission shall be a member of the General Assembly. of Virginia

In conducting its study, the commission shall, among other things, (i) evaluate the policy environment for educational leadership; (ii) propose necessary statutory amendments or changes based on research, surveys, analysis and review of pertinent laws, guidelines, policies, regulations and practices; (iii) communicate regularly with the Board of Education any relevant findings with recommendations for needed regulatory action; and (iv) provide a forum for educational leaders to report the challenges and effect of their work to the commission.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $10,000, in each year of the study. Other expenses of the commission shall be paid from the $25,000 in State Action for Educational Leadership Project grants from the Wallace Reader's Digest Funds that the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute shall provide to defray the costs of such expenses.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. The Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute shall provide technical assistance for the study. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the commission, upon request.

The commission shall submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2003 Session of the General Assembly, and shall complete its work by November 30, 2003, and submit its final written findings and recommendations to the 2004 Session of the General Assembly, as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.