New Principal Mentoring Program
Forecasted
The New Principal Mentoring Program from the Illinois State Board of Education supports first-year Illinois principals with expert mentoring to enhance leadership and reduce turnover, especially for diverse leaders.
Funder: Illinois State Board of Education
Due Dates (Anticipated): November 2026 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to $1.2 million total; individual awards vary based on mentee enrollment; no cost share required.
Summary: Supports first-year Illinois principals with individualized mentoring by experienced school leaders to build leadership capacity and reduce turnover, especially among diverse leaders.
Key Information: This is a forecasted opportunity; all dates and details are subject to annual state appropriations and updates.
Description
The program provides funding to approved entities to deliver individualized mentoring to all first-year principals in Illinois. The goal is to enhance leadership capacity, increase job satisfaction, and reduce turnover, with a special focus on supporting principals from diverse backgrounds and those serving diverse student populations. Mentoring is provided by veteran principals who have demonstrated instructional leadership success, and entities are expected to ensure high-quality training and appropriate mentor-mentee matches. The program is governed by state law and administrative code, and participation is mandatory for new principals when state funding is available.
