Ohio Administrative Code (Last Updated: January 12, 2021) |
3301 Department of Education - Administration and Director |
Chapter3301-24. Licensing and Education Programs |
3301-24-11. Alternative principal license
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(A) A one-year alternative principal license (renewable two times), valid for serving as principal or assistant principal, shall be issued at the request of the superintendent of a city, , local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district, educational service center, or the governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school or community school to an individual who is deemed to be of good moral character and who evidences the following:
(1) Bachelor's degree or master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education;
(2) Grade point average of at least 3.0;
(3) Two or more years of teaching experience or five years of documented successful work experience in education, management, or administration; and
(4) Verification from the employing school district that the alternative principal license applicant has been selected to serve in the position of principal or assistant principal only, including confirmation of the grade levels associated with the assignment.
(B) The employing school district shall provide a mentoring program for alternatively-licensed principals or assistant principals that includes the following:
(1) Assignment of a mentor who holds a standard principal license or certificate and who has served in the capacity of principal;
(2) Completion of interstate school leaders licensure consortium (ISLLC) self-assessment (available through the department's website at education.ohio.gov, keyword search ISLLC);
(3) Development of a personal learning plan approved by the mentor and superintendent; and
(4) Assistance in acquiring critical knowledge in the following areas that are referenced in the Ohio standards for principals as adopted by the state board of education (available on the department's website, education.ohio.gov, keyword search educator standards board at ):
(a) Continuous improvement - Principals help create a shared vision and clear goals for the school and ensure continuous progress toward achieving the goals;
(b) Instruction - Principals support the implementation of high-quality standards-based instruction that results in higher levels of achievement for all students;
(c) School operations, resources, and learning environment - Principals allocate resources and manage school operations in order to ensure a safe and productive learning environment;
(d) Collaboration - Principals establish and sustain collaborative learning and shared leadership to promote student learning and achievement of all students;
(e) Parents and community engagement - Principals engage parents and community members in the educational process and create an environment where community resources support student learning, achievement, and well-being.
(C) For non-educators issued an alternative principal license, the employing school district shall develop and implement a planned program for obtaining classroom teaching experience (one hundred eighty clock hours with a minimum of ninety hours in both year one and year two). Such a program must require the alternatively-licensed principal or assistant principal to work with an experienced teacher who consistently demonstrates effective practice at the accomplished or distinguished level of the Ohio standards for the teaching profession in order to obtain teaching experience based on guidelines developed by the Ohio department of education (The Ohio standards for the teaching profession are vailable on the department's website, education.ohio.gov.)
(D) Eligibility for a professional license for principals. A professional principal license will be issued to the holder of an alternative principal license upon successful completion of the following:
(1) Three years of successful experience under the alternative principal license;
(2) For individuals not holding a master's degree at the time of initial issuance of the alternative principal license, completion of a master's degree in education administration from an accredited institution;
(3) For individuals with a master's degree at the time of initial issuance of the alternative principal license, completion of six semester hours in school law, school supervision, and teacher evaluation, plus an additional six semester hours from an accredited institution of higher education or ninety clock hours of professional development based on pre-assessment data and personal learning goals;
(4) Participating in a structured mentoring program provided by the school district as outlined in paragraph (B) of this rule;
(5) For non-educators, verification by the superintendent of successful completion of the classroom teaching experience requirement based upon input from an experienced teacher who consistently demonstrates effective practice at the accomplished or distinguished level of the Ohio standards for the teaching profession ; and
(6) Successful completion of the state board of education examination required for administrators.
(E) A one-year alternative principal license may be issued at the request of an employing superintendent to an individual who holds a currently valid standard principal license or certificate and who the employing superintendent wishes to assign to serve as a principal or assistant principal at grade levels that are not currently included on the individual's standard principal license. Upon completion of one year of successful experience as a principal or assistant principal at the grade levels appearing on the alternative principal license and participation in a structured mentoring program provided by the employing school/district, the individual shall be qualified to add the new grade levels to his/her currently valid standard principal license.
(F) The department of education shall not issue an alternative principal license to the holder of a standard principal license who has not completed the required coursework or other professional development work to renew the expired or expiring standard principal license.