The Instructional Coaching Group is committed to one goal: “that every student will experience excellent instruction, every day, in every class.” We are continually researching what we can do to make that goal a reality. At this point, we believe the best way for that goal to be realized is that schools employ and support instructional coaches who effectively implement the Impact Cycle.
ICG Certification provides a target for any instructional coach interested in engaging in great coaching.
We have created this certification process to clearly describe what excellent coaching is and to provide a target for any instructional coach interested in engaging in great coaching. Around the world, organizations are hiring coaches even though they are unclear about what kind of coaching approach they’re adopting and what effective coaching looks like.
Our certification process helps schools and districts better understand what effective coaching is and how to implement it. Better teaching will lead to better learning, and we have found that better coaching is the most powerful way to make that happen.
1. To communicate the research about what works in instructional coaching
2. To provide coaches with a way to demonstrate their accomplished coaching practice
3. To ensure that coaching has the greatest possible influence on students
Similar to the National Board Certification process for teachers.
Training for new coaches: If you are looking for training for new coaches, you’ll want to register for A Framework for Instructional Coaching: The Seven Success Factors.
A “train the trainers” program: If you are looking for customized training for your school or district, visit our Bring ICG to My District page or our 1-1 Coaching page.
A course on instructional coaching: If you are looking for courses and workshops, visit our Upcoming Workshops page. If you are looking for asynchronous courses, visit Radical Learners.
Candidates must:
Year One:
Year Two:
Year Three:
Please note that refunds cannot be provided for this program.
The registration window for each annual cohort is November 1 – January 31.
The registration fee of $500 can be made via PayPal, credit card, or purchase order.
The ICG Certification process is a demonstration of current, accomplished coaching practice, so we use a multidimensional portfolio process to evaluate a candidate’s coaching practice.
Scores for each year’s submitted entries are released October 31. Click the link below to see the scoring and calculation process to help candidates understand their scores.
The entry submission window each year is May 1–June 15. Candidates will receive directions in advance each year explaining how to submit their written documents and videos when this portal opens during that time.
Next cohort date TBD, to express interest, please reach out to certification@instructionalcoaching.com.
Your portfolio is organized around the 7 Success Factors for effective coaching programs. All video clips must be submitted as secure YouTube links. All videos must be continuous and unedited except for shortening to meet the length requirement.
All written submissions must be submitted as one text document for each entry with all text pieces for that entry included in it. Size requirements for each written piece are contained herein. All written submissions must be in 12-pt. Times Roman font, double spaced on pages with 1-inch margins at top, bottom, and sides.
Your portfolio demonstrates current, accomplished coaching practice around the Seven Success Factors for effective coaching programs.
For detailed quality indicators, view the PDFs below:
Download Scoring 'Look-Fors' (PDF)
Download Standards and Quality Indicators (PDF)
Certified Instructional Coaches effectively implement the Impact Cycle to partner with teachers in achieving their student-focused goals (Knight, 2017).
Certified Instructional Coaches use an Instructional Playbook to partner with teachers to choose a strategy to achieve their PEERS goals. (See Knight, 2017, for an example of an Instructional Playbook.)
Certified Instructional Coaches partner with teachers to set PEERS goals and to monitor teachers’ progress toward those goals, and that means that coaches must be able to gather and analyze data. (A description of the important data that coaches should gather and PEERS goals is included in Knight, 2017.)
Because coaching involves communication, Certified Instructional Coaches continually engage in improving their communication skills and in communicating about coaching with all school stakeholders to build a collaborative school culture.
No matter how much knowledge instructional coaches have, they will not be effective change leaders unless they understand the complexities of helping and working with adults. Certified Instructional Coaches demonstrate that they understand how to interact with adults in ways that do not engender resistance.
Certified Instructional Coaches are emotionally intelligent, responsive to teachers, embody a stewardship approach during coaching, are ambitious for students, organized, and reliable (see Knight, 2016, chapter 9). In other words, effective coaches are effective leaders.
Certified Instructional Coaches flourish in systems that support them. When district leaders and, in particular, principals, support instructional coaches, effective coaches succeed. However, when support does not exist, effective coaches may have little or no impact (Knight, 2011).
The ICG Certification uses a four-point rubric.
4 = Clear, consistent, and convincing evidence is apparent.
3 = Clear evidence is apparent.
2 = Limited evidence is apparent.
1 = Little or no evidence is apparent.
Scores of 3 and 4 indicate that accomplished coaching is evident.
Scores of 1 and 2 indicate that less-than-accomplished coaching is evident.
When calculating candidate scores for each of the 7 Success Factors, we use these scores ranges:
4 = 3.75-4.25
3 = 2.75-3.25
2 = 1.75-2.25
1 = 0.75-1.25
Candidates receive an overall score between 1 and 4 on each of the 7 Success Factors. We then divide that total from all of the factors by 7 to obtain the overall score. The certification threshold is 2.75.
Candidates may not score lower than a 1.75 on any of the 7 Success Factors to qualify for certification. If they score less than that on a specific factor, then they may resubmit a revised version of that factor as a “retake” to achieve certification.
Each candidate will receive a score report like the one below. Candidates who do not achieve certification and want to retake specific pieces of the process may refer to their report for information on which sections to retake and to see where they can improve.
For detailed quality indicators, view the PDFs below:
Download Scoring 'Look-Fors' (PDF)
Download Standards and Quality Indicators (PDF)
The submission form opens May 1st and will appear below this text. If you have trouble submitting your portfolio, please contact us at certification@instructionalcoaching.com.
To submit your portfolio, please click the "Submit Your Portfolio" link below.
If you have trouble submitting your portfolio, please contact us at certification@instructionalcoaching.com.
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