School Improvement Leadership

Interested in becoming an influential leader in education? 

The School Improvement Leadership programs focus on instructional leadership. The programs culminate in a year-long practicum, where candidates apply theories and skills from coursework in the school environment. These programs are MSDE-approved for Supervision of Instruction/Assistant Principal/Principal licensure eligibility.

Program options available for:

  • Master of Education degree (33 credits)
  • Post Master’s Professional Development Certificate (21 credits)

M.ED. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

This 33-credit graduate program includes twelve courses. Students are required to complete an electronic portfolio as part of the practicum course. 

Graduates who wish to be eligible for the Supervision of Instruction/Assistant Principal/Principal licensure/endorsement must also have completed 27 months of satisfactory teaching performance or satisfactory performance on a professional license or satisfactory performance as a certified specialist and completion of the required 3-credit introduction or survey of special education course. 

REQUIRED COURSES

ED 602 – Social and Psychological Forces Affecting Youth (3 credits)

ED 604 – Contemporary Issues in Education (3 credits)

ED 646 – School Law (3 credits)

ED 653 – Supervision for Effective Instruction (3 credits)

ED 671 – School Improvement Leadership: A Theoretical Perspective (3 credits)

ED 672 – Assessing Needs and Evaluating Progress (3 credits)

ED 673 – School Improvement Leadership: Facilitating a Positive School Culture (3 credits)

ED 674A – Special Project Seminar/Practicum in School Improvement Leadership I (1.5 credits)

ED 674B – Special Project Seminar/Practicum in School Improvement Leadership II (1.5 credits)

ED 681 – Curriculum Development for a Multicultural Society (3 credits)

Required elective (3 credits) 

(3 credits selected based on MSDE Special Education prerequisite status)

ED 686 - Foundations of Special Education (3 credits)

ED 603 – Personality Development and Self-Esteem (3 credits)

Specialization Standards

PSEL Standard 1.0: Mission, Vision, and Core Values.
Effective educational leaders develop, advocate, and enact a shared mission, vision, and core values of high-quality education and academic success and well-being

PSEL Standard 2.0: Ethics and Professional Norms
Effective educational leaders act ethically and according to professional norms to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

PSEL Standard 3.0: Equity and Cultural Responsiveness
Effective educational leaders strive for equity of educational opportunity and culturally responsive practices to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

PSEL Standard 4.0: Curriculum, Instructional and Assessment
Effective educational leaders develop and support intellectually rigorous and coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, and assessment to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

PSEL Standard 5.0: Community of Care and Support for Students
Effective educational leaders cultivate an inclusive, caring, and supportive school community that promotes the academic success and well-being of each student.

PSEL Standard 6.0: Professional Capacity of School Personnel
Effective educational leaders develop the professional capacity and practice of school personnel to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

PSEL Standard 7.0: Professional Community for Teachers and Staff
Effective educational leaders foster a professional community of teachers and other professional staff to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

PSEL Standard 8.0: Meaningful Engagement of Families and Community
Effective educational leaders engage families and the community in meaningful, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial ways to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

PSEL Standard 9.0: Operations and Management
Effective educational leaders manage school operations and resources to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

PSEL: Standard 10.0: School Improvement
Effective educational leaders act as agents of continuous improvement to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.