FAQs

1. What is the CPS Principal Candidate Pool (Pool)?

Pool of candidates for principalship who have been determined to have the knowledge, skills, and ability to be a successful CPS principal

2. Why is membership in the Pool a requirement to be a Principal in the District?

The creation of the CPS Principal Candidate Pool was in response to The 1995 Chicago Schools Reform Amendatory Act, which allowed the District to hold schools accountable for student achievement. Before that, the Chicago Reform Act of 1988 created Local School Councils and gave them the authority to give a four year contract to a Principal.

Since 1997, the Board has maintained The Principal Eligibility Policy (Policy) that provides a system for:

• • • • selecting and maintaining a pool of candidates for principalship who have been determined to have the knowledge, skills, and ability to be a successful CPS principal and

      • identifying persons who are eligible for selection as a CPS principal

3. How do I become a member of the Pool?

In order to become a member of the Pool, you must apply and successfully complete the CPS Principal Eligibility Process. Please visit our website for additional information on the Process.

4. Is membership in the Pool a requirement if I want to be an Assistant Principal in the District?

No. Membership in the Pool is not required to accept an Assistant Principal position. To apply for Assistant Principal positions, please visit the CPS Job Board and search for “School Leader“ positions in the job field.

5. I am currently a CPS Principal. Do I need to be a member of the CPS Principal Candidate Pool (Pool)Eligible?

If you are an incumbent CPS Principal who is not seeking to change schools, you are not required to be a member of the Pool.. If you are seeking to change schools, you must be a member of the Pool.*

*Current CPS Principals may be granted Eligibility status if they have received at least a “proficient” rating on their two most recent CPS performance evaluations. Otherwise, CPS Principals must successfully meet the Eligibility requirements.

Please refer to the Principal Eligibility Policy (Board Policy #14‐0723‐PO1).

6. If I am already Eligible, is my status affected with this new Eligibility Process?

No. If you are already a member of the CPS Principal Candidate Pool under Board Policy #14‐0723‐PO1, you do not need to reapply.

7. How long will my eligibility status be valid once I become a member of the Pool?

Per Board Policy #14‐0723‐PO1 (Policy), if you are a member of the CPS Principal Candidate Pool as of March 1, 2013 or obtain membership in the pool after March 1, 2013, your membership will not expire if you meet the following criteria:

1. 1. 1. 1. You are currently employed in an educational leadership position or have been employed in such position for at least three of the last five years. Educational leadership positions include Principal, Assistant Principal, Instructional Support Leader, Chief of Schools, and Deputy Chief of Schools.

         2. You maintain valid and current licenses, certifications and qualifications as required by CPS and the state of Illinois and any relevant school code, law or statute.

         3. You continue to meet the Standards of Conduct and Professionalism set forth in Section 1.A of the Policy

         4. You maintain a rating of “proficient” or better (or the equivalent for external candidates) on your two most recent performance evaluations.

         5. You do not otherwise qualify for removal from the pool.

1. What is the CPS Principal Eligibility Process (“Eligibility Process”)?

The Eligibility Process is a rigorous, experience‐based and situation-based assessment designed to identify a pool of individuals who are qualified to lead a CPS school. Anyone interested in seeking a CPS principal position must successfully complete the Eligibility Process and meet the requirements of the CPS Principal Eligibility Policy (Board Policy #14‐0723‐PO1) prior to accepting a new principal contract or assignment.

2. How can I learn more specifics about the Eligibility Process?

Please visit our website to learn more about the Eligibility Process..

3. What are the minimum qualifications required to apply for CPS Principal Eligibility?

Applicants to the Eligibility Process must hold a Master’s degree or higher, a valid Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Professional Educator License (PEL) and Administrative Endorsement (i.e. General Administrator, Principal, or Superintendent),

4. Does my Master’s degree need to be in Education?

No, but you need all required coursework to hold the ISBE PEL and ISBE Administrative Endorsement.

5. If I already meet the minimum qualifications required, do I still need to apply to the CPS Principal Eligibility Process?

Yes. Per Board Policy #14‐0723‐PO1, the Eligibility Process is an additional requirement beyond the minimum qualifications set by the state of Illinois.

6. How many cycles of the Eligibility Process are offered each year?

There are typically three cycles of the Eligibility Process per year. Depending on district need, the number of cycles may vary. Please visit our website for application deadline information.

1. How do I apply to the Eligibility Process?

Complete the online Application during the next application period. You can find information on the application period and a preview of the application on the Principal Eligibility website.

2. How many times can I attempt the Eligibility process?

Twice within a 12-month period. If a candidate is unsuccessful after two attempts within a 12-month period, the candidate must wait at least one year from the date of the second attempt before reapplying.

3. How will I know if my application was received?

Upon submission, you will receive an automated email confirming receipt with next steps.

4. Will I be allowed to save parts of my application and return at a later time?

No. There is no save and continue feature. You are encouraged to write your essays in a separate document before entering them into the application.

5. What do I do if I am having technical difficulties with my application?

If you are having technical difficulties, please call Principal Quality at 773-553-1515 or email cpsleaders@cps.edu.

1. What is included in the Background Screenings?

The background screenings consist of a background check, conducted through the Office of Safety and Security, a review of the applicant’s discipline/misconduct history, and verification of employment.

2. What is the Background Check?

All applicants must satisfy a background check to determine whether they meet the high standard of conduct and professionalism expected of CPS principals.

3. How is the Background Check initiated?

The background check is initiated through applicant fingerprinting. Candidates will receive more information about how to complete the fingerprinting upon submitting their application in Step 1. All applicants must undergo the background check in order to gain membership into the CPS Principal Candidate Pool.

4. What are the Enumerated Crimes that will automatically disqualify me for employment consideration?

See full list of Enumerated Crimes.

5. I am already a CPS employee. Do I need to complete a Background Check for the Eligibility Process?

Yes. The background check is required of all candidates.

6. What if I do not complete the fingerprinting within seven business days of submitting my application?

If we do not receive notification from Accurate Biometrics that you have completed the fingerprinting process, your application will be considered incomplete and you will have to apply again in a future cycle. This application will not count as a formal attempt and will not count towards the two attempt limit within a 12-month period.

Notification of completed fingerprinting typically comes from Accurate Biometrics three days after the fingerprinting is complete. If we do not receive confirmation that you have completed fingerprinting during the timeline or if you do not complete fingerprinting through Accurate Biometrics, we will request a receipt of completion.

7. What is the discipline/misconduct history review?

All CPS employees applying to the Eligibility Process will have their CPS discipline history reviewed by a committee to determine whether they meet the high standard of conduct and professionalism expected of CPS principals. The discipline screen will consider the type, frequency and circumstances of any history of misconduct, violation or discipline.

External applicants will be asked to provide an overview of their discipline/misconduct history from their current or most recent employer. If they are former employees, their previous CPS discipline and misconduct history will also be reviewed.

8. Who is part of the committee that reviews discipline/misconduct?

Committee members are District leaders with expertise in various aspects of the organization in order to ensure decisions made are equitable, legal, and aligned to the Principal Eligibility Policy and values of the organization. Most members have experience as a Principal and/or Principal Supervisor in the District.

9. I am an external applicant, what happens if my current/most recent employer does not provide employment verification or my most recent performance evaluation by the deadline?

If your employer does not provide your employment verification or performance evaluation by the deadline, your application will be considered incomplete and you will have to apply again in a future cycle. This application will not count as a formal attempt and will not count towards the two attempt limit within a 12-month period.

10. I am an external applicant, what happens if my current/most recent employer does not provide my discipline/misconduct history prior to my Step 2 process?

If your employer does not provide your discipline/misconduct history, your membership status will be considered “Pending” until it has been received and reviewed by committee.

1. What certification is required to apply to the Eligibility Process?

Applicants to the Eligibility Process must hold a ISBE Professional Educator License (PEL) and Administrative Endorsement (i.e. General Administrator, Principal, or Superintendent).

2. How do I obtain the required ISBE credentials to apply for the Eligibility Process?

You can learn more about obtaining the required PEL and Administrative Endorsement on the ISBE website.

3. Are there any programs available to help me meet the residency requirement to obtain the appropriate credentials?

Yes. Depending on the type of licensure you need, the District and/or partners offer various programs aimed at getting you the experiences you need to obtain licensure. For more information on these programs and to determine which program might be the right fit for you, please visit the Lead with CPS site.

4. I am a current Chicago Leadership Collaborative Resident Principal. Do I need to have my Administrative Endorsement prior to applying to the

Current Chicago Leadership Collaborative (CLC) Resident Principals may apply to the Eligibility Process as they pursue their ISBE Principal endorsement. However, if they are successful in the process, they will remain “pending” until their endorsement is verified.

Resident Principals must obtain their endorsement by September 30th following the completion of the Residency year and are responsible for informing the Department of Principal Quality that they have obtained their endorsement by emailing cpsleaders@cps.edu.

1. How are my leadership essays evaluated?

Leadership essays are read and scored according to a rubric by three assessors. Assessors Principals, Deputy Chief of Schools, and Chiefs of Schools, and District leaders. All assessors and interviewers are trained on the Eligibility Process.

2. What is the Leadership Essay verification process?

The leadership experiences you submit must be verified by the individual who was your supervisor* at the time of the experience. A supervisor is someone who is accountable for the outcomes of your work. You must provide the name and email address of your supervisor(s). Ensure your supervisor provides the requested verification within the provided time frame.

Your supervisor will be asked to verify the following:

• • • • They were your supervisor at the time of the leadership experience

      • The leadership experience occurred within the last three years

      • The actions you took led to the outcomes presented

3. What if my leadership experiences are not verified on time during Step 1?

If we do not receive by the deadline, the application will be considered incomplete and you will have to reapply in a future cycle. This application will not count as a formal attempt in the Eligibility Process.

Your withdrawal attempt will not count towards the two-attempt limit.

1. What happens if I arrive late or cannot attend my scheduled time for the Step 2 process?

A: If you know in advance that you are unable to attend your scheduled date and time, please inform Principal Quality by calling 773-553-1515 or emailing cpsleaders@cps.edu. In the event that there is an opening, you will be rescheduled. Otherwise, you will be withdrawn from the current cycle.

If you are late or are unable to attend for your scheduled attempt, you will be withdrawn from the current cycle.

When you want to complete the Eligibility Process, you must reapply during a future application cycle

2. What happens if I begin the Step 2 Assessment and decide not to complete it?

A: If you begin but do not complete Step 2, your attempt will be counted as a failed attempt. Applicants are allowed to attempt the Eligibility process twice within a 12 month period. If an applicant is unsuccessful after two attempts, the applicant must wait at least one year from the date of the second attempt before reapplying. There is no appeal process.

3. If I need to withdraw from the current cycle, how much time do I have to complete before I am required to start the Eligibility Process over from the beginning?

A: If you withdraw at Step 1 of the process, you will begin the process at Step 1.

If you withdraw at Step 2 of the process, you have six 12-months from your initial Step 1 attempt to months from the date of your withdrawal to reapply and start at the step from which you withdrewStep 2. If you reapply later than six months from the date of your withdrawal12-months from the date of successfully completing Step 1, you must start at the beginning.

4. If I am unsuccessful at Step 2 in the current process, will I start at Step 2 when I reattempt?

A: Yes. You will start at Step 2 if you reapply within 12 months of the date of your initial application. If you reapply later than 12 months of your initial application, you will have to start at Step 1.

5. Who are the assessors and interviewers for the Eligibility Process?

A: The assessors and interviewers are CPS Principals, Deputy Chief of Schools, Chiefs of Schools, and District leaders. All assessors and interviewers are trained on the Eligibility Process.

6. If I am unsuccessful in the Eligibility Process, can I appeal that decision?

A: No. There is no appeal process. However, a candidate may reapply within the two-attempt limit within a 12-month period.

7. When will I know my Eligibility Status?

A: The Eligibility Process may take up to eight-weeks from the date of your application to receive notification of your Eligibility Status.

8. How long will my eligibility status be valid once I become a member of the Pool?

Per Board Policy #14‐0723‐PO1 (Policy), if you are a member of the CPS Principal Candidate Pool as of March 1, 2013 or obtain membership in the pool after March 1, 2013, your membership will not expire if you meet the following criteria:

• • • • You are currently employed in an educational leadership position or have been employed in such position for at least three of the last five years. Educational leadership positions include Principal, Assistant Principal, Instructional Support Leader, Chief of Schools, and Deputy Chief of Schools.

      • You maintain valid and current licenses, certifications and qualifications as required by CPS and the state of Illinois and any relevant

      • You continue to meet the Standards of Conduct and Professionalism set forth in Section 1.A of the Policy

      • You maintain a rating of “proficient” or better (or the equivalent for external candidates) on your two most recent performance evaluations.

      • You do not otherwise qualify for removal from the pool.

1. What is the Chicago Leadership Collaborative (CLC) Residency program?

The CLC is the District’s principal pipeline program. In collaboration with CLC partner programs, Residents are selected and admitted into a principal residency program. Please visit our Chicago Leadership Collaborative page to learn more.

2. Do I have to go through a CPS Principal Pipeline Program (CLC or Aspiring Principals Institute) to become a principal?

No. Participation in a CLC Residency program or the Aspiring Principals Institute is not a requirement to be a CPS principal.

3. If I participate in the CLC Residency program, am I considered Eligible upon completion?

No. You must successfully pass the Eligibility Process to become a member of the CPS Principal Candidate Pool.