Business, military leaders could become Iowa superintendents under proposal

The state Board of Educational Examiners wants more time to discuss a proposal that would let business and military leaders become Iowa school superintendents.

The Des Moines Register says a March 14 work session on the proposal was scheduled by the board at Thursday's meeting. Iowa Education Department staffers also were asked to prepare other proposals for creating alternative paths for superintendents.

Currently, only licensed educators may become superintendents.

Under the proposal, people with five years of recent experience in the "upper cabinet or leadership team of an organization" would be eligible for preliminary administrator licenses. That would let them serve as school superintendents or the directors of Area Education Agencies.

They then would be required to spend the next three years completing courses for professional administrator licenses.