Educational Leadership Certification

The Educational Leadership Certification Program, accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the Florida Department of Education, is designed for students who have a minimum of two years (three years preferred) of teaching experience and wish to prepare for administrative and supervisory positions, such as principal, assistant principal, district supervisor, in-service director, curriculum developer, or dean in public and private elementary and secondary schools. The degree emphasizes the ten Florida Principal Leadership Standards and associated competencies and seeks to prepare students for the Florida Educational Leadership Exam (FELE). Passing scores on the FELE are required prior to graduation.

Students will be assigned a faculty mentor who will provide career advice and advisement concerning professional issues. The Educational Leadership Certification Program has a field experience embedded in each course. Students must have access to and work with an administrator in a school or educational setting.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the University graduate admission requirements described in the Admissions section of the catalog, the applicant must meet the following minimum departmental admission requirements for provisional admission:

• Have a valid professional teaching certification issued by Florida or another U.S. state
• Have a minimum of two years (three years preferred) of k-12 teaching experience
• Have earned a GPA of at least 3.0 on a bachelor's degree*
• Submit a letter of intent that includes the following information: your professional background, short- and long-term goals, contributions you would like to make to your field of education, and strengths you bring to the program
• Submit contact information (email addresses and phone numbers) for two professional references
• Submit evidence of minimum "instructional expertise" and "leadership potential" standards as defined by 6A-5.081 by providing recent teacher evaluation ratings or evidence:
  • “Instructional expertise” means documented successful demonstration of the core standards for effective educators outlined in the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPs) and a documented track record of achieving student gains. Acceptable documentation of instructional expertise must include a rating of “effective” or higher on the “Performance of Students” and “Instructional Practice” sections of the candidate’s two most recent performance evaluations per Section 1012.34, F.S. For candidates who are not employed by a Florida public school district, a post-secondary institution or school district may accept alternative equivalent documentation demonstrating two years of effective instruction with a record of student learning gains.
• Submit evidence of "leadership potential" (applicant may provide a letter from current school principal, superintendent, or other relevant evidence):
  • "Leadership potential" means the critical skills and dispositions that a candidate must demonstrate prior to entering the program. At a minimum, these qualifications must include an analysis of the candidate's relentless focus on improving student achievement in their own classrooms and contributing to the demonstrable improvement of teaching effectiveness in the classrooms of colleagues.

*

Applicants who do not meet the GPA requirement but meet all remaining admission requirements may be conditionally admitted to the program. Specific academic requirements will be established by the School of Education and monitored by the Graduate School (see Conditional Admission in the Admissions section of the catalog).

All approvals for admission to the Educational Leadership program are subject to reevaluation as students progress through the program. Students denied admission or removed from the program may appeal the decision to the Dean of the School of Education.

School of Education students are expected to adhere to the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida and national standards of conduct associated with professional, accreditation, and state agencies. Students will receive additional support, as needed or requested, through the Educational Leadership Remediation Plan. 

Degree Requirements

In addition to general University requirements, students seeking the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership must meet the requirements listed below.

• Be admitted to the program
• Complete degree requirements compliant with the time-to-degree policy
• Be recommended for graduation by the School of Education
• Successfully complete any additional requirements of the selected specialization

Major Requirements

A minimum graduate GPA of 3.0 or better is required. Refer to GPA Requirements for more information.