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2004 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 124
Continuing the Commission to Review, Study, and Reform Educational Leadership. Report.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 17, 2004
Agreed to by the Senate, March 9, 2004

WHEREAS, House Joint Resolution No. 20 (2002) and Senate Joint Resolution No. 58 (2002) established the Commission to Review, Study, and Reform Educational Leadership; and

WHEREAS, acknowledging that "effective leadership is inextricably linked to excellence in public education and student academic achievement in our public schools," the original resolutions cited 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"; and

WHEREAS, supporting the Commission's initial work was one of only 15 National State Action for Educational Leadership Project (SAELP) grants from the Wallace Reader's Digest Funds, sought by and awarded to the Commonwealth and implemented in cooperation with the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute (CEPI) at Virginia Commonwealth University in January 2002 on behalf of the Department of Education and the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to HJR 20 and SJR 58, the General Assembly assigned the 21-member Commission a number of responsibilities, specifically, to "(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 to the Board of Education any relevant findings with recommendations for needed regulatory action; and (iv) provide a forum for educational leaders to report to the commission the challenges of, and impact on, their work"; and

WHEREAS, the Commission met five times in 2002, receiving testimony from school administrators, education experts, and representatives of state and national education leadership organizations, and its 2003 Interim Report, House Document No. 14, included six recommendations; and

WHEREAS, delving further into potential methods of ensuring effective preparation and ongoing professional development for school leaders in its second year of study, the Commission met three times in 2003, and received invaluable input from representatives of the Task Force to Evaluate and Redesign Preparation Programs and Professional Development for School Leaders, professional organizations, and education leaders; and

WHEREAS, while the Commission has addressed a broad range of issues, including identification and cultivation of potential principals; credit toward probationary service for out-of-state service and other recruitment and retention incentives; increased staffing levels; job-sharing and potential delegations of authority; additional assistance for struggling schools; licensure and internships; and principals' academies, additional issues remain outstanding that necessitate the continuation of the Commission's efforts; and

WHEREAS, among the Commission's 14 recommendations set forth in its 2004 report, House Document No. 4, was to continue its work in 2004 to receive reports and information regarding the recommendations of the Board of Education regarding alternative licensure routes and a two-tiered licensure system, and that, if the Commission is not continued by the 2004 Session, that the Board report its findings and recommendations to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health prior to the 2005 Session; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Commission to Review, Study, and Reform Educational Leadership be continued.

The Commission shall consist of 21 members that include eight legislative members, three nonlegislative citizen members, and 10 ex officio members. Members shall be appointed as follows: five members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates and one president of a Virginia public four-year institution of higher education and one practicing assistant principal actively employed by a Virginia local school board or their designees to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates. Current members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and ex officio members shall continue to serve.

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 three Virginia Principals of the Year for 2002, one each representing the elementary, middle, and high school levels, and the Virginia Superintendent of the Year 2002, shall serve ex officio with full voting privileges. The chairman of the Commission shall be a member of the General Assembly of Virginia.

Vacancies shall be filled by the original appointing authority. Nonlegislative citizen members of the Commission shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the chairman of the Commission and the respective Clerk, nonlegislative citizen members shall only be reimbursed for travel originating and ending within the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of attending meetings. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

In conducting its study, the Commission shall (i) receive reports and information regarding Board of Education recommendations regarding alternative licensure routes and a two-tiered licensure system; and (ii) examine such other issues as it deems appropriate.

Administrative staff support shall continue to be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the Commission shall continue to be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission for this study, upon request.

The Commission shall be limited to four meetings for the 2004 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $10,000 without approval as set out in this resolution. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the Commission and the respective Clerk. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

No recommendation of the Commission shall be adopted if a majority of the House members or a majority of the Senate members appointed to the Commission (i) vote against the recommendation and (ii) vote for the recommendation to fail notwithstanding the majority vote of the Commission.

The Commission shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2004, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the Commission intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may approve or disapprove expenditures for this study, extend or delay the period for the conduct of the study, or authorize additional meetings during the 2004 interim.