The school superintendency in connecticut's schools: An introductory analysis and preliminary standards

Abstract

The Connecticut State Education Department is in the process of developing a standards-based approach to the certification of school administrators based on the belief that the preparation and certification for administrative positions should be outcome driven. It is believed that the current system of certification based largely on graduate course credits and years of experience is not the best way to demonstrate competence. Further, it is asserted that professional development should take place at stages in the career continuum of administrators, and, therefore, that requirements for continuing certification should extend throughout an administrator's career. The recommendations for these changes that were approved by the State Board of Education were based on the Report of the Connecticut Education Department Task Force, reviews of literature and practice, and discussions with national experts in the field. Among other features the new certification regulations would provide standards for an appraisal system that would provide the basis for state assessments of those seeking administrative certification. The development of a monograph and specific standards related to the school principalship were the major features during the beginning of the project. The purpose of this article is to present preliminary standards that would serve as the foundation for the development of an appraisal system for the certification of school superintendents in Connecticut. These preliminary standards would guide the preparation of school superintendents, and later the development of new assessment procedures for the certification of superintendents. Within this article a logical relationship is drawn between the discussion of the role categories of the school superintendent, the major expectations of superintendents within those categories, and general, preliminary standards. The standards are not meant to be exhaustive, but rather to represent significant priorities for the superintendency in the opinion of the authors.