Question
: Can we use our Teacher Recruitment and Student Support grant for the recruitment of vice principals?Response: Teacher Recruitment and Student Support grants were awarded June 2006 to local educational agencies (LEA) to improve student learning in low-performing schools defined as schools in deciles 1-3 of the 2004 Academic Performance Index (API). The 338 school districts that were awarded the grants served 2,039 of the 2,408 schools eligible to apply for the $46.5 million in grants at that time. This was a competitive grant process. The 338 grantees were selected based on their development of a plan to use the funds, proposed activities, and proposed budget. That plan for use of funds submitted with the grant application must be approved by the local governing school board, and the board-approved plan is to be retained on file with the LEA.
The funds must be used to provide a safe and clean school environment for teaching and learning, support services for students and teachers, and small group instruction. Activities must be focused on the recruitment and retention of educators who meet the No Child Left Behind definition of a highly qualified teacher at the schools of highly skilled principals. Review of the law finds that recruiting highly qualified teachers and principals is mentioned; unfortunately, no mention of vice-principals is made. We did contact CDE and asked your question anonymously to see if they have a different opinion, but they did not. So, the answer to your question would be "no" based on this information.
8/4/08
