Pennsylvania school districts and intermediate unit educational agencies have a new mission. They must respond to increased accountability like never before. As a result of the No Child Left Behind federal legislation, all students must perform at least at the proficient level on state testing of Pennsylvania Standards by the year 2014. Low-performing schools need sustained increases in student performance while higher-performing schools must move from "good" to "great." We cannot expect school leaders to rise to this challenge without making sure that they are equipped with the right knowledge, skills and attitudes.

To accomplish this task, Governor Ed Rendell's administration established an education goal to create systems and structures for developing academic leadership focused on understanding the ways to boost student achievement. Secretary of Education Dr. Gerald Zahorchak helped to develop the PA Inspired Leadership Initiative to achieve this goal.

The Pennsylvania Inspired Leadership Initiative will provide a statewide, standards-based leadership development and support system for school leaders at all levels through a delivery system that is cohort-based and embraces the regional collaboration of Intermediate Units and their partners.

Principal's Induction Program (GROW)

The GROW program is designed for beginning principals who have less than five years of experience as a school leader. Included in this definition are Assistant Principals who have responsibility for some instructional tasks in their respective schools and have less that five years experience.

LEAD (SUPPORT)

The LEAD Program, formerly know as SUPPORT, is for principals and other administrators who have more than five years experience as a building or school leader. The program is beneficial to principals as well as district central office, intermediate unit directors, and vocational directors. Completion of this course provides 75 Act 48 PIL hours that will help satisfy the Continuing Education requirements of Act 45 of 2007.

Corollary Standards

The Corollary Standards Program is for principals and other administrators who have completed either GROW or SUPPORT programs. Although completion of these courses are not required to enroll in these courses (NISL Courses 2 and 3), it is recommended that they are taken in sequence in order to protect the integrity and continuity of the sequenced curriculum. Completion of each course provides CPE credit that will help satisfy the Continuing Professional Education requirements of Act 45 of 2007 and Act 48.

2-DAY COURSES

Beginning with the 2009-10 school year, the PIL program will offer several two-day stand-alone courses that address one or more of the Corollary Standards. No pre-requisites are required for admission to these courses and they each provide 30 hours of Act 48 PIL credit.

PDE