Board changes requirements for principals

A state board wants to change the requirements for becoming a principal in Iowa’s schools. The State Board of Educational Examiners today proposed reducing the amount of classroom teaching experience required to become an elementary or high school administrator. Judy Brueggeman, the Board’s chair,says the rules, if approved, will require potential principals to have three years teaching experience in the classroom instead of the current five. The change is expected to make it easier for principals in surrounding states move into Iowa’s system. Brueggeman says they’ve discussed making a change in the requirements for several years.The state is facing a shortage in administrators in the coming years as many current principals retire. Brueggeman says the board is struggling with ways to increase the number of new administrators without reducing their quality with lower standards. The proposed change must go through a public hearing process before it’s adopted by the board.