Virginia Law

A. An endorsement in administration and supervision preK-12 consists of Level I, which is required to serve as a building-level administrator or central office instructional supervisor, and Level II, which is an optional endorsement to which an experienced building-level administrator may aspire. Individuals shall meet the requirements for the administration and supervision preK-12 endorsement through one of the four options listed in this section. A school leader's assessment prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education shall be passed for all individuals who are seeking an initial endorsement authorizing them to serve as principals and assistant principals in the public schools. Individuals seeking an initial administration and supervision endorsement who are interested in serving as central office instructional personnel are not required to take and pass the school leaders assessment prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education.

B. Level I, Option I: Approved program route to Level I administration and supervision preK-12 endorsement. To become eligible for a Level I endorsement under this option, the candidate shall have:

1. Earned a master's degree from an accredited institution;

2. Completed three years of successful, full-time experience in a public school or accredited nonpublic school in an instructional personnel position that requires licensure in Virginia;

3. Completed an approved program in administration and supervision from an accredited institution;

4. Completed a deliberately structured and supervised internship that is focused on student academic progress for all students and that:

a. Provides significant experiences within a school environment for candidates to synthesize and apply content knowledge and develop professional skills through school-based leadership experiences;

b. Shall occur in a public or accredited nonpublic school;

c. Provides exposure to five different multiple sites, such as elementary, middle, high, central office, and agency, with diverse student populations; and

d. Documents a minimum of 320 clock hours, of which 120 clock hours are embedded as experiential field-based opportunities experienced during coursework; and

5. Satisfied the requirements for the school leaders licensure assessment prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education. Individuals seeking an initial administration and supervision endorsement who are interested in serving as central office instructional personnel are not required to take and pass the school leaders assessment prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education.

C. Level I, Option II: Alternate route to Level I administration and supervision preK-12 endorsement restricted to the Virginia school division in which the superintendent submitted the recommendation for endorsement. This endorsement is valid only in the designated Virginia school division and would not be portable or reciprocal. In order to be eligible for Level I endorsement under this option, the candidate shall have:

1. Earned a master's degree from an accredited institution;

2. Completed graduate coursework in school law, evaluation of instruction, and other areas of study as required by an employing Virginia school superintendent. The graduate coursework shall be taken from an accredited institution that has a state-approved administration and supervision program;

3. Completed three years of successful, full-time experience in a public school or accredited nonpublic school in an instructional personnel position that requires licensure in Virginia;

4. Satisfied the requirements for the school leaders licensure assessment specified by the Virginia Board of Education; and

5. Been recommended by the superintendent in the employing Virginia school division.

D. Level I, Option III: Alternate route to Level I administration and supervision preK-12 endorsement. In order to be eligible for Level I endorsement under this option, the candidate shall have:

1. Earned a master's degree from an accredited institution;

2. Completed graduate coursework in school law, evaluation of instructional personnel, special education, school finance, educational leadership, and other areas of study as required by an employing Virginia school superintendent, and the graduate coursework shall be taken from an accredited institution that has a state-approved administration and supervision program, or the candidate shall have completed school law, school finance, and a research-based program approved by the Virginia Department of Education that includes organizational leadership, instructional leadership, instructional practices in content areas, data utilization, evaluation and instructional coaching, and creating positive school cultures;

3. Completed three years of successful, full-time experience in a public school or accredited nonpublic school in an instructional personnel position that requires licensure in Virginia;

4. Satisfied the requirements for the school leaders licensure assessment specified by the Virginia Board of Education; and

5. Been recommended by the superintendent in the employing Virginia school division.

E. Level I, Option IV: Out-of-state administration and supervision endorsement. Virginia does not issue a stand-alone license in administration and supervision. The endorsement is added to a license. The candidate shall have:

1. Earned a master's degree from an accredited institution;

2. Completed three years of successful, full-time experience in a public school or accredited nonpublic school in an instructional personnel position;

3. Satisfied the requirements for the school leaders licensure assessment specified by the Virginia Board of Education; and

4. A current, valid out-of-state license, (with full credential), with an endorsement in administration and supervision or completed an approved program in administration and supervision from an accredited institution leading to an endorsement as a building-level administrator.

F. Level II: Principal of Distinction endorsement in administration and supervision preK-12. A building-level administrator may seek the Principal of Distinction, Level II endorsement in administration and supervision preK-12 after successfully serving as a building-level administrator for at least five years in a public school or an accredited nonpublic school and successfully completing a formal induction program as a principal or assistant principal. In order to earn the Principal of Distinction, Level II endorsement, the candidate shall meet two or more of the following criteria as specified by the Virginia Board of Education and documented in a Virginia Department of Education approved format and be recommended by the employing Virginia school division superintendent:

1. Evidence of improved student achievement;

2. Evidence of effective instructional leadership;

3. Evidence of positive effect on school climate or culture;

4. Earned doctorate in educational leadership or evidence of formal professional development in the areas of school law, school finance, supervision, human resource management, and instructional leadership; or

5. Evidence of completion of a high-quality professional development project designed by the division superintendent.