Campus Connection

The Institute for Professional Studies in Education (IPSE) is starting a new 28-credit Educational Leadership Certificate program for master’s level teachers, school counselors, school psychologists and school social workers seeking PK-12 principal (5051) licensure through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The philosophy of the program is a learning-in-community, constructivist model with culturally-relevant teaching. Aspiring principals join the program in a cohort providing them the opportunity to share common emotions, values or beliefs in education while actively engaged in collegial learning. This program meets the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) standards, the Wisconsin Administrator Standards and professional educational requirements for principal licensure in Wisconsin and most other states. The curriculum consists of nine courses including:

• Introduction to Educational Leadership
• Principalship
• Data-based Decision Making for Instruction
• Supervision and Instruction
• Leadership and Cultural Competence
• School Law
• School Finance & Resource Allocation
• Pedagogical Practices
• Practicum in the Principalship & Seminar

Learners will also be required to complete a portfolio as part of the program. Admission requirements for the new program include:

1. Master’s degree in education or closely related field from an accredited institution.
2. Three years of successful full-time teaching experience at any of the grades at the early childhood through adolescence developmental range, OR, Three years of successful experience as a school counselor, a school psychologist, or a school social worker, which includes evidence of at least 540 hours of successful classroom teaching experience.

3. Hold or be eligible to hold any Professional Educator License to teach at the early childhood through adolescence developmental range or shall have completed an approved program leading to a license to teach, OR, Hold or be eligible to hold a Professional Educator License as a school counselor, a school psychologist, or a school social worker, or shall have completed an approved program leading to one of these licenses.

4. (a) An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.85 on a 4.0 scale, or (b) an average of at least 3.0 in the last half of all undergraduate work, or (c) an average of at least 3.0 for no fewer than 12 semester credits of graduate study at another accredited graduate institution.
5. Completed an online application.
6. Provide the University with your original transcript.
7. Two professional letters of recommendation.
8. A copy of your teacher or administrator license.
9. Provide verification that degrees completed outside the state meet Wisconsin teaching standards.

IPSE is offering the Educational Leadership program in an online format for Spring 2016. For more information, contact Cindy George at cgeorge@uwlax.edu.