SB300 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

To create the School Principal Leadership and Mentoring Act and the Alabama Principal Leadership Development System for public K-12 education; to provide for the creation and implementation of a mentoring program for new principals and a continuing professional learning program for principals and assistant principals; and to provide annual stipends for each principal and assistant principal who satisfactorily completes the program.

Summary

SB300 creates the School Principal Leadership and Mentoring Act to build a statewide principal development system with mentoring for new principals, ongoing professional learning for principals and assistant principals, and stipends for program completion.

What This Bill Does

It establishes the Alabama Principal Leadership Development System and a design team to create mentoring, leadership standards, and an evaluation framework. It requires all principals and assistant principals to participate and complete the program, including a two-year mentoring arrangement for new principals and a year-long leadership academy. It provides annual stipends for completion (up to $10,000 for principals and $5,000 for assistant principals) and extra supplements for those in low-performing or high-poverty schools, with funding and reporting requirements.

Who It Affects

• Principals and assistant principals: must participate in the program and may receive stipends upon completion.
• New principals (first or second year): eligible for two years of mentoring under the program starting 2024-25.
• High-poverty or low-performing schools: eligible for additional stipend supplements to attract/retain leaders.
• Local boards of education and school districts: responsible for implementing the program and providing required professional learning and mentoring.
• The Department of Education and the design team: responsible for designing, overseeing, and implementing the system, including drafting standards, frameworks, and the leadership academy; may contract with training providers.

Key Provisions

• Creates the School Principal Leadership Development System and defines key terms (design team, mentoring, new principal, principal, etc.).
• Requires a design team (with specific composition) to develop the program, including standards, framework, leadership academy, mentoring, and evaluation.
• Rollout in three phases with increasing complexity: phased professional learning plans start in 2024-25, plus five additional days of high-quality professional learning for administrators, and development of a year-long leadership academy by fall 2025.
• Establishes an evaluation system by fall 2025 aligned to the new leadership standards and framework, measuring domains of principal effectiveness and student outcomes.
• Provides annual stipends for program completion: up to $10,000 for principals and up to $5,000 for assistant principals; additional supplements up to $5,000 (principal) and $2,500 (AP) for those in low-performing or high-poverty schools; subject to legislative appropriation.
• Requires professional learning plans to include goals related to student growth/achievement and school climate; elementary principals receive targeted early literacy/numeracy training as part of plan.
• Mandates mentorship for new principals (two years beginning 2024-25) and a leadership academy to be implemented by 2029-2030; mentors receive training; new principals may be exempt if employed as of July 1, 2024.
• Authorizes funding, technical assistance, and board rulemaking to implement and enforce the act; requires annual reporting to the Legislature on progress and costs.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Alabama School Principal Leadership and Mentoring Act, created