The Department shall establish, in collaboration with the Accountability and Implementation Board established under § 5–402 of this article, a school leadership training program for the State Superintendent, county superintendents, senior instruction–related staff, members of the Accountability and Implementation Board, members of the State Board, members of county boards, and school leaders. The school leadership training program consists of two components: The school system leadership training program; and The Maryland school leadership academy. The following individuals shall complete the school system leadership training program: The State Superintendent; A county superintendent; and The chair and vice chair of the State Board, a county board, and the Accountability and Implementation Board. The school system leadership training program shall be: For a duration of 12 months; Cohort–based to encourage collaboration and shared learning, including through regional gatherings of education leaders and other meetings when appropriate; To the extent practicable, job–embedded to allow for application of knowledge and techniques; Tailored to program participants using self–diagnostics and school–level diagnostics; Evidence–based in accordance with the guidelines for the federal Every Student Succeeds Act; Provided through both in–person and virtual sessions; and Include training on the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, as defined in § 5–401 of this article. The school system leadership training program shall include: A review of education in the United States relative to countries with top performing education systems and the implications of high performance for students, the economic security of the United States, and quality of life; A model for strategic thinking that will assist education leaders to transform districts and redesign schools under their leadership; Training to provide a working knowledge of research on how students learn and the implications for instructional redesign, curriculum plans, and professional learning; A research–based model for coaching school leaders and instructional coaches; A review of research regarding: The benefits to students from access to high–quality and diverse teachers; Methods to attract highly qualified teachers from diverse backgrounds who reflect the demographics of the students they teach; and Best practices for teacher retention, including retention of teachers from diverse backgrounds; Lessons in transformational leadership; A method for organizing schools to achieve high performance, including: Building instructional leadership teams; Implementing career ladders for teachers; Overseeing teacher induction and mentoring systems; and Identifying, recruiting, and retaining high–quality and diverse school leaders; Training to provide a deep understanding of standards–aligned instructional systems; An overview of ethical leadership directly tied to the educational leaders’ responsibility to drive equitable learning in their schools; and A review of research regarding methods to attract and retain an inclusive workforce. The following individuals may complete the Maryland school leadership academy: School principals; School assistant principals; School–based or county board leaders interested in developing the instructional leadership skills to become an effective school principal or assistant principal; and Other individuals the Department or county board determines could benefit from the academy. School leaders who work in or are interested in transferring to a community school or a low–performing school shall be given priority in participating in the academy. The Maryland school leadership academy: Shall be: For a duration of 12 months; Cohort–based to encourage collaboration and shared learning; To the extent practicable, job–embedded to allow for application of knowledge and techniques; Tailored to participants using self–diagnostics and school–level diagnostics; Evidence–based in accordance with the guidelines for the federal Every Student Succeeds Act; and Provided through both in–person and virtual sessions; and Shall include training on best practices and strategies used by highly effective school leaders that will enable school leaders to implement components of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, as defined in § 5–401 of this article. The Maryland school leadership academy shall include: Strategic planning and change management to transform and redesign schools; Instructional leadership, including: Alignment between standards, assessments, and internalizing curriculum; Lesson observations, providing feedback, and teacher coaching; and Data–informed instruction and driving equitable learning outcomes across student groups; Best practices for facilitating professional learning among teachers; Methods for recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers and teachers from diverse backgrounds who reflect the demographics of the students they teach; A method for organizing schools to achieve high performance, including: Building instructional leadership teams; Utilizing teachers on the career ladder; and Master scheduling; and Strategies for effective peer mentorship. The Maryland school leadership academy may include a mentorship component for participants. Effective school leaders shall be selected to serve as mentors. Mentors may be paid a stipend to participate in the academy.