1. (a)

   1. (1) The Arkansas Leadership Academy administers the Master School Principal Program.
   2. (2) Program applications are available from the academy.

   3. (3)

      1. (A) All Arkansas public school building-level principals with one (1) year of experience as a building-level principal may apply.
      2. (B) Preference will be given to applicants with three (3) or more years of leadership experience.
      3. (C) The years of experience preference may be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
   4. (4) The number of participants each year in each phase may be determined by the amount of funding available for the program.

2. (b) Criteria and selection to the Master School Principal Program.

   1. (1) Phase one.

      1. (A) Phase one shall expand the knowledge base and leadership skills of the principal.
      2. (B) Selection of participants for phase one will be based on responses to the application and on a balance of demographic information.
      3. (C) The number of participants each year may be determined by the amount of funding available for the program.

   2. (2) Phase two.

      1. (A) Phase two shall require the principal to:

3. (i) Apply strategies; and

   1. (ii) Collect evidence of improvement in student learning and school processes.

      1. (B) Phase two participants are those who have successfully demonstrated a thorough understanding and implementation of Arkansas Leadership Standards addressed in phase one as evidenced by phase one assessments, which may include:

         1. (i) Portfolios;
         2. (ii) Student achievement data;
         3. (iii) Site visits;
         4. (iv) Self-assessments; and
         5. (v) Other forms of evidence.

   2. (3) Phase three.

      1. (A) Selection of participants for phase three will be based on a participant's successful completion of:

         1. (i) Phase two assessments;
         2. (ii) Evidence of school results; and
         3. (iii) Letters of recommendation.
      2. (B) Phase three shall require the principal to publicly demonstrate the ability and skills that lead to sustained academic improvement in a school and a school district.

      3. (C) Phase three participants are those who have successfully demonstrated a thorough understanding and implementation of Arkansas Leadership Standards addressed in phase two as evidenced by phase two assessments, which may include:

         1. (i) Portfolios;
         2. (ii) Student achievement data;
         3. (iii) Site visits;
         4. (iv) Self-assessments; and
         5. (v) Other forms of evidence.

   3. (4) Master school principal designation. The academy will make a master school principal designation after a participant successfully:

      1. (A) Completes phase three;
      2. (B) Passes extensive reviews of school results; and
      3. (C) Passes rigorous assessments based on the performance areas of the assessment.
   4. (5) Participants in the Master School Principal Program will have up to two (2) years to complete the assessments for each phase, for a maximum time of six (6) years to complete the program and earn designation unless extended at the discretion of the academy due to extenuating circumstances.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules contained language at the end of the section that provided as follows: "Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-1602"