LM Sept 2021

Principal Prep Completers

responses from 591 of the state’s 853 districts. Of those responding, 77% said they have a teacher shortage problem. A number of factors have caused the teacher shortage, including an emphasis on high-stakes testing, the high cost of a degree, perceived low pay, increasing the age of retirement to 67 and fewer students enrolling in teacher education programs. Teaching isn’t the only shortage happening. Principals have also seen a significant drop off. The number of people who have earned a principal endorsement plummeted over 85 percent between 2011 and 2019. In 2019, only 383 prospective leaders completed all principal endorsement requirements. In comparison, 2,637 people completed principal endorsement requirements in 2011. In 2020, Dr. Jason Leahy, Illinois Principals Association Executive Director, said “the lack of individuals entering the principalship in Illinois is at a crisis point.” The IPA and others say a big reason for the significant drop in candidates is Public Act 96-0903, which, in 2010, required

the redesign and re-accreditation of all principal preparation programs in Illinois, with the goal of advancing statewide school improvement through strengthening school leadership. The IPA advocates for a number of changes, including creating alternative pathways to the principalship, adopting new leadership standards and providing statewide mentoring and coaching. Dr. Rosborg also believes the process to enroll in principal prep programs in Illinois is overly burdensome, and that barriers hampering people from continuing teaching as they pursue their principal endorsement should be relaxed. “The applications are often 700 pages in length,” Dr. Rosborg said. “It has become a paperwork nightmare.” Before the pandemic hit, the data also showed fewer people were taking the test to become certified as a superintendent. This followed the general trend of shortages of teachers and principals since 2012.

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Superintendent Licensure Test

21 LM September 2021