Educational Leadership, Ed.S.

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Verl Pope, Ed.D., Department Chair

Rosa Weaver Ed.D., Graduate Program Director

Purpose

The Education Specialist in Leadership degree will lead to administrative certification in Kentucky. The Principal Preparation track within the Ed.S. degree program is to train and develop excellent teachers for administrative positions as elementary, middle and secondary school principals as well as P-12 Supervisors of Instruction. The Education Specialist in Educational Leadership has two distinct concentrations.

Contact Information

Counseling, Social Work, and Leadership Graduate Office - MEP 295

edleadership@nku.edu or (859) 572-7892

Admission Requirements

Individuals applying must meet all requirements for admission to graduate study at Northern Kentucky University as defined by the Graduate Catalog at the time of application in addition to the following criteria:

Submit an online application and application fee to the Office of Graduate Education.
Copy of valid teaching certificate showing successful completion of three (3) years full-time documented classroom teaching experience in a school which meets the state performance standards as established in KRS 156.560.
Official transcripts sent from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. One transcript must show completion of master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education, with a total cumulative grade point average of no less than 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Three recommendations-one must be from current principal and/or supervisor completed on the Ed.S. recommendation forms.
Ed.S. Supplemental Application, including three essays which attest to candidates skills and understanding of: Leadership; Ability to Improve Student Achievement; Advanced Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment.
A professional folio presented in an innovative and attractive manner including at least three documents that demonstrate successful teaching, and at least three artifacts that support successful leadership activities.
Successful completion of an interview, including an on-demand writing sample in response to a case study with a satisfactory score.
Approval of interview committee and graduate program director.

♦ Indicates prerequisite.

Curriculum Requirements

Level One Course Sequence (30 credit hours)

Completion of all courses in the level one sequence is required to serve in the position of school principal.

Level Two Course Sequence (6 credit hours)

Completion of two of the three courses in the level two sequence is to occur after the Ed.S. degree has been completed to obtain level II principal certification. Program director will work with candidate to identify which two courses will be most beneficial for the candidate in their planned program.

Total Program Hours: 36

Exit Requirements

For the Principal Preparation Concentration:

Application to graduate submitted by posted deadlines by candidate through their myNKU student portal.
Completion of all coursework for the Education Specialist in Educational Leadership program with minimum 3.0 GPA.
Completion of all required coursework used for the degree with a C or higher.
Complete all six anchor assessments successfully with satisfactory performance on ISLLC standards.
Capstone project and two presentations.
Signed curriculum contract(s) for Education Specialist in Educational Leadership program and signed Code of Ethics.
Submission of CA-1 form with other required documents to the Counseling, Social Work, and Leadership (MEP 295).

For the Supervisor of Instruction Concentration:

Application to graduate submitted by posted deadlines by candidate through their myNKU student portal.
Completion of all coursework for the Education Specialist in Educational Leadership program with minimum 3.0 GPA.
Completion of all required coursework used for the degree with a C or higher.
Complete all six anchor assessments successfully with satisfactory performance on ISLLC standards.
Capstone project and two presentations.
Signed curriculum contract(s) for Education Specialist in Educational Leadership program and signed Code of Ethics.
Submission of CA-1 form with other required documents to the Counseling, Social Work, and Leadership (MEP 295).

*NOTE: Praxis exams are not required for completion of the Ed.S. degree or awarding of the Supervisor of Instruction certification at this time. However, certification requirements are subject to change therefore students are encouraged to apply for the certification upon completion of their degree. You may choose not to do so but must file for the certification within two calendar years of graduation from the Ed.S. Students may not graduate then later request that principal certification be added to transcripts. However, students may take the principal exams and request principal Level I certification provided they have submitted the appropriate documents including copies of passing scores on both exams within two calendar years of graduation.

Additional Requirements

The Certification will be awarded to candidates upon:

In order to obtain principal certification recommendation completion of appropriate testing as required by the Kentucky Professionals Standards Board (KYEPSB) on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (6011) with minimum passing score of 160 and the Kentucky Specialty Test of Instructional and Administrative Practice (6015) with a minimum passing score of 158. Requirements and passing scores for certification are subject to change. For the most current Praxis II testing requirements, go to the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board website (http://www.epsb.ky.gov). Candidates applying for Ohio certification may submit a copy of passing scores on the assessment required by Ohio in lieu of Kentucky Praxis scores.
Completion of five years of successful teaching.
Submission of the appropriate CA-1 and other appropriate documents to the Counseling, Social Work, and Leadership Graduate Office in MEP 295.

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