20 U.S.C. § 6673 — School leader recruitment and support

(a) In general. From funds reserved under section 6671(2), the Secretary must competitively award grants to eligible entities to improve recruitment, preparation, placement, support, and retention of effective principals and other leaders in high-need schools. Activities may include: (1) leadership training, including alternative pathways and residencies; (2) recruiting, selecting, and developing aspiring or current leaders; (3) recruiting, developing, and placing leaders in schools carrying out comprehensive or targeted support and improvement under section 6311(d), including cohort work that builds instructional and leadership teams and focuses school culture, design, instruction, and professional development on student learning; (4) continuing professional development; (5) developing and sharing best practices and strategies, including training principals to create and maintain leadership teams; and (6) other evidence-based activities under section 6611(c)(4) or 6613(b)(3) focused on leaders in high-need schools.

(b) Program periods and diversity. (1) A grant may last no more than 5 years. (2) The Secretary may renew it for one additional 2-year period. (3) As far as practicable, grants must be spread among entities serving geographically diverse urban, suburban, and rural areas. (4) An entity may receive no more than one grant in one competition.

(c) Cost-sharing. (1) A recipient must provide at least 25 percent of the yearly total activity cost from non-Federal sources. (2) Cash or fairly valued in-kind facilities, equipment, and services may count. (3) The Secretary may waive or change this requirement for demonstrated financial hardship.

(d) Applications. An entity seeking a grant must apply when and how the Secretary requires.

(e) Priority. The Secretary must favor an entity (1) with a record of developing principals who improved school-level student results, became principals in high-need schools, and stayed in those schools for multiple years; and (2) that will carry out evidence-based activities meeting section 7801(21)(A)(i).

(f) Definitions. (1) “Eligible entity” means (A) a local educational agency, including an educational service agency, serving a high-need school, or a consortium of such agencies; (B) a State^* educational agency or consortium of such agencies; (C) a State educational agency in partnership with one or more local educational agencies, or educational service agencies, that serve a high-need school; (D) the Bureau of Indian Education; or (E) an entity described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) in partnership with one or more nonprofit organizations or institutions of higher education. (2) “High-need school” means (A) an elementary school where at least 50 percent of enrolled students are from families below the poverty line, or (B) a secondary school where at least 40 percent are from such families. This section does not otherwise define these quoted terms.