Educating Teachers For Illinois Schools

Author : Illinois State Univ., Normal. Coll. of Education
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 87 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (16 download)

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Download or read book Leadership for Learning written by Illinois State Univ., Normal. Coll. of Education and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 87 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2001, Illinois was one of 15 states across America selected and funded by the Wallace Foundation, in cooperation with the National Council for State Legislatures, National Governors' Association, Education Commission of the States, Council of Chief State School Officers, and the National Association of State Boards of Education, to plan, conduct, and implement recommendations to strengthen education leadership that had the potential for improving student learning within the state. This national project is called "State Action for Education Leadership Project" (SAELP). For the past decade or more, the public policy agenda has focused on teacher quality. It was now time to give attention to those policies that affect the quality of education leadership in Illinois schools and elsewhere and build on past state initiatives to further strengthen the entire education personnel system in ways that can impact student learning. Strong education leadership is essential to improving student learning in Illinois schools and supporting quality in teaching. Education leadership was defined as the ability to shape organizational conditions necessary for the development of shared goals, collaborative work structures and climates, and procedures for monitoring results that build the sufficient capacity of schools to accomplish the core tasks of education (Michael Fullan, "Leading in a Culture of Change," 2001). Primarily, education leadership includes the work of local school boards, superintendents, principals, and teacher leaders. It is the responsibility of all educators to support and enhance the learning of school children in Illinois' public schools. The education leadership of the state must stay committed to attending to students' learning if Illinois is to improve its record of achievement and close the achievement gap among the diverse groups of students enrolled in Illinois public schools. Broadly, this local responsibility and state commitment is referred to as providing Leadership for Learning. From July 2001 through December 2003, the IL-SAELP completed a comprehensive study of education policy designed to strengthen leadership for learning by local school boards, superintendents, principals, and teacher leaders. Advised by the Illinois Consortium for Education Leadership, a statewide representative group of leaders from education stakeholders, business and demonstration districts, the IL-SAELP recommends sharpening or enacting statutes, regulations, and advisories that, when implemented, focus a renewed attention by education leaders on learning. These recommendations are grounded in a set of eleven principles that provide a vision of leadership for learning. The study culminated in nearly three dozen recommendations for state action to strengthen leadership for learning. These recommendations and report will be submitted to Governor Rod Blagojevich, the Illinois General Assembly and its Education Committees, the Joint Education Committee, State Board of Education, Illinois Board of Higher Education, and the Illinois Community College Board for their respective consideration. While the recommendations reflect a majority consensus of the Illinois Consortium for Education Leadership, they, of course, do not reflect total unanimity. The recommendations also do not necessarily reflect the official position of the board, association, or group being represented by a member of the Illinois Consortium for Education Leadership. Official dissenting views from various groups may be found in the last chapter of the Report. The following are appended: (1) SAELP Resolution; (2) Fact Sheet on What We Know about Illinois Superintendents; (3) Fact Sheet on What We Know about Illinois Principals; and (4) Course Requirements of Principal Preparation Programs in Illinois. [This report was prepared by the State Action for Education Leadership Project, Center for the Study of Education Policy, Illinois State University. Funding for this report was provided by Illinois State University and the Wallace Foundation.].