Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation State Challenge Grant for Leadership DevelopmentState of California Matching Funds Program for the Gates Challenge Grant
The state of California has provided matching funds for the Gates Challenge Grant program through passage of Assembly Bill 75, which establishes "The Principal Training Program." The program will consist of the following elements:
Administrators will receive 80 hours of training (referred to as the "Institute") in six specific areas, and an additional 80 hours of intensive individualized support and professional development (referred to as the "Follow-up Practicum").
Training will occur in the following six areas:
- School financial and personnel management
- Core academic standards
- Curriculum frameworks and instructional materials aligned to the state academic standards
- The use of pupil assessment instruments, specific ways of mastering the use of assessment data from the Standardized Testing and Reporting Program, and school management technology to improve pupil performance.
- The provision of instructional leadership and management strategies regarding the use of instructional technology to improve pupil performance.
- Extension of the knowledge, skills, and abilities acquired in the preliminary administrative preparation program that is designed to strengthen the ability of administrators to serve all pupils in the school to which they are assigned.
The six areas for training will be delivered in three modules based on criteria approved by the State Board of Education. The modules are:
- Leadership and Support of Student Instructional Programs
- Leadership and Management for Instructional Improvement
- Instructional Technology to Improve Pupil Performance
Additional instruction and training areas that may be considered to improve pupil learning and achievement based upon the needs of participating schoolsite administrators include: pedagogies of learning, motivating pupil learning, collaboration, conflict resolution, diversity, parental involvement, employee relations, and the creation of effective learning and workplace environments.
The State Board of Education will approve all training providers and all school district training and expenditure plans. Participating local education agencies will use only Board approved training providers.
Proposed Timeline
- February 2002—State Board approves criteria for training providers
- May 2002—State Board begins approving training providers
- May 2002—State Board begins approving school district training and expenditure plans
- June 2002—Initial funding distributed
- June 2002—Administrator training begins
- December 2004–2006—Training concludes
Read the text of AB 75
