(1) As used in this section, "school leader" means a school principal or assistant principal.
(2) There is created the School Leadership Development Program to increase the supply of highly effective school leaders capable of:
(a) initiating, achieving, and sustaining school improvement efforts; and
(b) forming and sustaining community partnerships as described in Section 53F-5-402.
(3) The state board shall identify one or more providers, through a request for proposals process, to develop or provide leadership development training for school leaders that:
(a) may provide in-depth training in proven strategies to improve springboard schools and elevate schools;
(b) may emphasize hands-on and job-embedded learning;
(c) aligns with the state's leadership standards established by state board rule;
(d) reflects the needs of a school district or charter school where a school leader serves;
(e) may include training on using student achievement data to drive decisions;
(f) may develop skills in implementing and evaluating evidence-based instructional practices;
(g) may develop skills in leading collaborative school improvement structures, including professional learning communities; and
(h) includes instruction on forming and sustaining community partnerships as described in Section 53F-5-402.
(4) Subject to legislative appropriations, the state board shall provide incentive pay to a school leader who:
(a) completes leadership development training under this section; and
(b) agrees to work, for at least five years, in a school that ranked in the lowest performing 20% of schools under the school accountability system in the school year previous to the first year the school leader:
(i) completes leadership development training; and
(ii) begins to work, or continues to work, in a school described in this Subsection (4)(b).
(5) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the state board shall make rules specifying:
(a) eligibility criteria for a school leader to participate in the School Leadership Development Program;
(b) application procedures for the School Leadership Development Program;
(c) criteria for selecting school leaders from the application pool; and
(d) procedures for awarding incentive pay under Subsection (4).