CHAPTER 82
STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION MANAGER PROGRAMS
281—82.1(272) Definitions.
“Coach” means a person who provides regularly scheduled coaching visits to SAM/administrator teams.
“Department” means the department of education.
“Director” means the director of the department of education.
“Organization” means a professional organization offering an approved training program and support for SAMs.
“SAM” or “school administration manager” means a person or persons who are authorized to assist a school administrator in performing noninstructional administrative duties.
“School administration manager program” means a program of SAM training and preparation that leads to authorization to practice as a school administration manager.
“State board” means the Iowa state board of education.
“Trainer” means a person with responsibility for providing approved training for school administration managers.
[ARC 7419C, IAB 12/27/23, effective 1/31/24]
281—82.2(272) Organizations eligible to provide a school administration manager training program. Approved professional organizations engaged in the preparation and training of SAMs that meet the standards contained in this chapter may obtain and maintain state board approval of the organizations’ training programs for SAMs. Only approved programs may recommend candidates for SAM authorization.
[ARC 7419C, IAB 12/27/23, effective 1/31/24]
281—82.3(272) Approval of training programs. The state board’s approval of an organization’s training program is based on the recommendation of the director after study of the evidence about the program in terms of the standards contained in this chapter. The department will seek maximum flexibility in the design of systems allowed to meet the goals of this program.
	82.3(1) Approval, if granted, will be for a term of seven years; however, approval for a lesser term may be granted by the state board if it determines conditions so warrant.
	82.3(2) If approval is not granted, the applicant organization will be advised concerning the areas in which improvement or changes appear to be essential for approval. In this case, the organization will be given the opportunity to present factual information concerning its program at a regularly scheduled meeting of the state board, no later than three months following the board’s decision.
	82.3(3) Programs may be granted conditional approval upon review of appropriate documentation. In such an instance, the program will receive a full review after one year or, in the case of a new program, at the point at which candidates demonstrate mastery of standards for authorization.
	82.3(4) The standards herein apply regardless of delivery mode of the training.
	82.3(5) All programs in existence prior to July 31, 2013, are deemed to meet program standards without having to submit an application for review.
[ARC 7419C, IAB 12/27/23, effective 1/31/24]
281—82.4(272) Governance and resources standard. To be an approvable organization, an organization’s governance structure and resources adequately support the training of SAMs to meet professional, state, and organizational standards in accordance with the following provisions:
	82.4(1) The organization provides sufficient trainers, coaches, and administrative, clerical, and technical staff to plan and deliver a quality SAM program.
	82.4(2) Resources are available to support professional development opportunities for trainers of SAMs.
	82.4(3) Resources are available to support technological and instructional needs to enhance trainer and authorized SAM learning.
[ARC 7419C, IAB 12/27/23, effective 1/31/24]
281—82.5(272) Trainer and coach standard. An approved organization’s trainer and coach qualifications and performance facilitate the professional development of SAMs.
[ARC 7419C, IAB 12/27/23, effective 1/31/24]
281—82.6(272) Assessment system and organization evaluation standard. An organization’s assessment system monitors individual candidate performance and uses the performance data in concert with other information to evaluate and improve the organization and its program. The actual annual evaluation of each SAM is performed by the administrator or the administrator’s designee, and the evaluation is conducted in accordance with the standards set forth in rule 281—82.7(272). The organization will annually report data to the department, as determined by the department. The department will periodically conduct a survey of schools or facilities that employ authorized SAMs to ensure that the schools’ and facilities’ needs are adequately met by the programs and the approval process herein.
[ARC 7419C, IAB 12/27/23, effective 1/31/24]
281—82.7(272) School administration manager knowledge and skills standards and criteria. SAMs will demonstrate the content knowledge and professional knowledge and skills in accordance with the following standards and supporting criteria.
	82.7(1) Standard 1. Each SAM will demonstrate an understanding of the instructional and management codes and how to best support the SAM’s administrator in instructional leadership. If a SAM is also employed as a secretary or administrative assistant, the SAM’s job responsibilities will be modified as established by the school district.
	82.7(2) Standard 2. Each SAM will attend an approved training program at the onset of the SAM’s hire. The training for the SAM and administrator will include the following:
	a. 	Background information on SAMs.
	b. 	Understanding of the instructional and management descriptors.
	c. 	Introduction and practice using approved time-tracking software.
	d. 	First responders and delegation responsibilities.
	e. 	Job responsibilities and variations.
	f. 	Daily meeting protocols.
	g. 	Training of office staff on communication with others.
	h. 	Use of reflective questions.
	i. 	Understanding of conflict resolution skills.
	j. 	Action planning for building implementation and timelines.
	k. 	SAM/administrator rubric process.
	82.7(3) Standard 3. Each SAM will demonstrate competence in technology appropriate to the SAM’s position.
	82.7(4) Standard 4. Each SAM will demonstrate appropriate personal skills. The SAM:
	a. 	Is an effective communicator with all stakeholders, including but not limited to colleagues, community members, parents, and students.
	b. 	Works effectively with employees, students, and other stakeholders.
	c. 	Maintains confidentiality when dealing with student, parent, and staff issues.
	d. 	Clearly understands the administrator’s philosophy of behavior expectations and consequences.
	e. 	Maintains an environment of mutual respect, rapport, and fairness.
	f. 	Participates in and contributes to a school culture that focuses on change in teacher practices and improved student learning by supporting the administrator in the administrator’s instructional leadership role.
	82.7(5) Standard 5. Each SAM will fulfill professional responsibilities as established by the SAM’s school district.
	82.7(6) Standard 6. Each SAM will engage in professional growth that continuously improves the SAM’s skills of professional inquiry and learning.
[ARC 7419C, IAB 12/27/23, effective 1/31/24]
281—82.8(272) Monitoring and continued approval. Upon request by the department, programs will make periodic reports, which include basic information necessary to maintain up-to-date data of the SAM program and to carry out research studies relating to SAMs. Every seven years or sooner if deemed necessary by the director, an organization will file a written self-evaluation of its SAM program. Any action for continued approval or denial of approval will be approved by the state board.
[ARC 7419C, IAB 12/27/23, effective 1/31/24]
281—82.9(272) Approval of program changes and flexibility of programs. Upon application by an organization, the director may approve minor additions to or changes within the organization’s approved SAM program. When an organization proposes a revision that exceeds the primary scope of the organization’s program, the revision becomes operative only after approval by the state board. Districts may have a variety of programs and job descriptions that meet the standards of a SAM system but must receive permission to make changes to those programs in the manner prescribed. The department will seek maximum flexibility in systems allowed to meet the goals of this program. Essential components of any approved SAM program include readiness, data collection of administrator time, ongoing training of the program administrator, use of time-tracking software and ongoing coaching for participants in the program.
[ARC 7419C, IAB 12/27/23, effective 1/31/24]
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 256.7(30)“b.”
[Filed ARC 0813C (Notice ARC 0694C, IAB 4/17/13), IAB 6/26/13, effective 7/31/13]
[Filed ARC 7419C (Notice ARC 7096C, IAB 10/4/23), IAB 12/27/23, effective 1/31/24]