The Center for the Study of Education Policy launched the first training of its Leadership for Equity Micro-Credential (LFE MC) Pilot on Wednesday, February 12, at the state Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Conference. The LFE MC Pilot is being launched with participating principals and assistant principals statewide in partnership with BloomBoard, American Institute for Research (AIR), Regional Office of Education #19 (DuPage) and Regional Office of Education #17 (DeWitt, Livingston, Logan, and McLean).
The LFE MCs were developed by a national design team made up of 25 professionals from Illinois, Tennessee, and other regions nationally, representing higher education, K-12 schools, and research organizations. The LFE MC series is based on the 7 Equity Commitments of Tennessee’s Leaders for Equity Playbook but broken down into four individual micro-credentials.
- Exploring and Deepening an Equity Mindset
- Applying a Culturally Responsive Lens to a Data Cycle
- Guiding Culturally Responsive Instructional Practice
- Hiring and Retaining Culturally Responsive Staff
Content of the micro-credentials was reviewed through a national usability pilot of over 300 principals/assistant principals in Spring 2019 as well as focus groups with Tennessee and Illinois equity-focused principals. Successful program completers will receive some measure of in-service professional development credit and recognition of completion on their Illinois license. The series is designed specifically for principals and assistant principals, although complementary Leadership for Equity Micro-Credentials for district leaders and aspiring leaders are being developed.
The Leadership for Equity Micro-Credential series is possible through support from the Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) TEAM Lead project and from the W. Clement & Jessie V. Stone Foundation. Tennessee’s Leaders for Equity Playbook was developed through funding by The Wallace Foundation.
