What are the ISLLC Standards for School Leaders?
The Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) national Standards for School Leaders were written by representatives from states and professional associations in partnership with the National Policy Board for Educational Administration in 1994-95. The standards development was supported by grants from the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Danforth Foundation. The standards were published by the Council in 1996 and have been adopted, adapted, or used by most states in developing their own administrator standards and licensing policies.

Where can I get a copy of the ISLLC Standards?
Hard copies of the ISLLC standards are no longer available from CCSSO. They are available free of charge as a pdf file, at http://www.ccsso.org/content/pdfs/isllcstd.pdf.

Please use the following citation and web address in referencing the ISLLC standards:

Council of Chief State School Officers. (1996).  Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Standards for School Leaders.  Washington, DC: Author. Available: http://www.ccsso.org/content/pdfs/isllcstd.pdf.

Please use the following information about the history of the ISLLC Standards for School Leaders:

The Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Standards for School Leaders (Council of Chief State School Officers, 1996) were written by representatives from states and professional associations in a partnership with the National Policy Board for Educational Administration in 1994-95, supported by grants from the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Danforth Foundation.  The standards were published by the Council of Chief State School Officers, copyright © 1996.

Where can I get a copy of the ISLLC Standards Collaborative Professional Development Process materials?
The updated Collaborative Professional Development Process materials are available from the CCSSO Publications Office. Click on Publications and Products on the left for more information.

What is the current status of the ISLLC Standards?
The vision of leadership that guided development of the standards emphasizes leading for student learning, which is central to school improvement and expectations in NCLB. The standards articulate what administrators should know, believe, and be able to do to improve schools and increase student learning and were written even before NCLB’s strong accountability requirements for school improvement and student achievement.

Most states have adopted or used the ISLLC standards to raise expectations about local administrator practice. The standards provide a common language across state and regional differences, facilitating joint projects and sharing of effective strategies and resources, particularly to develop and identify effective leadership practices for improving low-performing schools. The Council continues to work with states and other partners on guidelines and projects for implementing and using the standards effectively, such as the Collaborative Professional Development Process guide that is being updated and expanded. Other products will be updated or developed as needed to reflect continuous evolution and implementation of the standards.

Which states have adopted the ISLLC Standards?
CCSSO conducts a biannual state policy study that gathers information about administrator policies, including administrator standards, preparation program requirements, licensure structures, licensure assessments, and professional learning requirements. The results of the 2006 study are available here.

Where can I find information about the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) and the School Superintendent Assessment (SSA) administered by the Educational Testing Service?
Information about the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) and the School Superintendent Assessment (SSA) is available from the Educational Testing Service website. CCSSO does not have information about these tests.