Feb.9, 2005

Probationary Principal and Superintendent Certificates

  Kip Sullivan, Professor

Sul Ross State University

SBEC is transitioning from the Temporary Assistant Principal, Principal, and Superintendent certificates to the new Probationary Principal and Superintendent Certificates. The change will happen on May 31, 2005.

The following are the major points as I understand it.

How Come the Change?

The SBEC Board wanted to get the administrative certificates to be consistent with the other educator certifications [NCLB] and to limit the number of temporary certificates for approval. The professional organizations were involved in the process.

Where are the Relevant SBEC Rules on this Issue?

The Temporary Certificate Rule was in 230, subchapter g - and that section has been deleted.

The Probationary Certificates are found in 232 subchapter 4.

Principal Certificate information is in 241.

Superintendent Certificate information is in 242.

What are the Specifics?

Probationary Certificates are issued by SBEC upon recommendation of the preparation program for Principal or Superintendent. There is no Probationary Assistant Principal certificate. The intent is that a person placed on the Probationary Principal Certificate may serve as an Assistant Principal with the result being fully certified.

The Probationary Certificate is a one-year certificate that may be renewed two additional times for a maximum of three years. Each preparation program must complete the request to SBEC for an additional year of renewal.

At the initial request, an individual must have a statement from the superintendent of the district stating what employment that individual will have if the probationary certificate is approved. The three years need not be consecutive and that is left to be determined by the preparation program. For example, an individual becomes deployed overseas in the U. S. Military.

SBEC is not in the business of gathering lots of forms and documentation; this is left to the preparation program. Each preparation program may establish its own requirements and regulations for applicants for Probationary Certificates. A preparation program does not have to participate in providing probationary certification options. The program also may establish it own requirements for adequate yearly progress for individuals on the probationary certificate to determine eligibility for additional years of use of the probationary certificate.

There are no specific course or semester credit hour requirements from SBEC. However, each preparation program certification must be based upon the standards for the particular certificate.

Thus, the Probationary Certificate program must be included in the Standard Principal or Standard Superintendent Certification programs offered.

The major issue is that during the Probationary Certificate program, the preparation program is required to provide mentoring and support for each candidate. This mentoring and support may have different levels of intensity from the first year through the third year. However, it is the responsibility of the preparation program to document what it is doing to provide the mentoring and support for each person in the probationary program.

The Internship component of the Standard Principal or Superintendent Certification plan seems to be a most logical way to develop the mentoring and support required by Probationary Certification as established by SBEC. I believe we need to work together to establish clear rules and regulations for using the probationary school administration certificates and be ready to have them in place by June 1 st , 2005. If you are interested in working with me on this, please contact me at sullivan@sulross.edu .

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