District Level Administration, Ed.S.

The Ed.S. in District-Level Administration provides a theory-to-practice approach for specialized study in district-level school leadership at the post-master’s level for those seeking advanced credentials but not a full doctoral degree with a dissertation requirement. The degree emphasizes the development of the knowledge, skills, and competencies required for transformative, district-level leaders and administrators who are able to address the changes occurring in P-12 school systems and the scope and nature of modern education.  Included within the degree are relevant field-based experiences; action research; seminars specific to the district-level position and responsibilities; mentor-supervised internship or clinical experiences embedded in six core courses, and a culminating Capstone Experience resulting in an original contribution to the field. The program leads to Indiana’s P-12 district-level administrator’s licensure.  

Program Outcomes  

1. Develop, implement, and monitor shared vision, mission, and core values supporting a P-12 culture of achievement and continuous, sustainable district and school improvement.
2. Demonstrate competencies of a district instructional leader by employing evidence-based strategies, including systems of learning and instruction, high-quality professional development, and intellectual processes to support principals, teachers, and staff as they strengthen curricula, content delivery, instructional effectiveness, and assessment for all students.  
3. Engage all key stakeholders in collaborative, meaningful work to achieve transformative results in student engagement and achievement and district-wide continuous improvement.  
4. Structure and manage an educationally enriched, technology-enhanced, inclusive, safe, caring, and healthy district and school culture that promotes equitable access and treatment, culturally and individually responsive practices, and coherent systems of academic and social supports, discipline, services, extracurricular activities, and accommodations to meet the full range of student needs.  
5. Leverage organizational, operational, and human/fiscal resource administrative skills to drive improvements in building leader effectiveness, including professional development; desired educational outcomes, and overall district and school success. 
6. Practice and model ethical decision-making skills to include equitable considerations, valid data gathering, various reporting measures, and consequence analyses concerning personnel and other issues impacting district environments.  
7. Promote the building of relationships by modeling professional norms, ethical behaviors, responsible actions, and essential educational values that promote equity, social justice, fairness, and respect among all diverse district stakeholders. 
8. Demonstrate shared decision making and an effective communication network through various media modes and accessibility for the purpose of establishing and maintaining positive community/district relationships and providing an overall context in which decisions are made in the service of student learning and development.  
9. Apply legal and social principles in an institutional framework to enrich the district’s climate, culture, and diverse learning infrastructure, including an emphasis on civic and global learning.  
10. Engage in professional learning activities and research to serve as an advocate for district needs and priorities and to remain current on best practices in the field; local, state, and national decision making; school board relations and district governance; and compliance with policy, laws, and regulations.  

Course Sequence (34 Semester Credits)