Master of Education (Certification) Instructional Leadership

Instructional Leadership Admission Process

Phase I: Graduate School Admission

Unconditional Admission:

To be unconditionally admitted, an applicant must:

1. Meet the requirements to be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies;
2. Have a minimum of three full years of full-time, satisfactory professional education experience in a P-12 setting, which must include P-12 teaching experience if admitted prior to August 2010 or have a minimum of three full years (or six full semesters) of full-time, acceptable professional education experience in a P-12 setting, which must include at least one full year of full-time P-12 teaching experience if admitted on or after August 1, 2010;
3. Effective January 1, 2022, and thereafter, have a valid Alabama Professional Educator Certificate endorsed for library media or school counseling, document a minimum of seven full years of full-time employment, in the same school system, as a library media specialist or school counselor in a P-12 setting if admitted spring semester 2022 or thereafter, and provide a written recommendation from the current employing superintendent;
4. Provide verification of background clearance/fingerprints;
5. Submit a transcript documenting completion of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum 2.75 grade point average (four-point scale).
6. A survey of special education course is required unless that course was taken for prior level certification. An individual who completed a survey of special education course prior to the semester when the individual met requirements for unconditional admission to a Class A program July 1, 2017, and thereafter, must take a course focused primarily on one of the following categories: methods of accommodating instruction to meet the needs of students with exceptionalities in inclusive settings, multicultural education, Teaching English language learners, rural education, or urban education. A diversity course used to meet this requirement for one level of certification may not be used to meet the requirement for a higher level of certification. This rule is applicable to the Reduced -Hour Option.

NOTES:

• Candidates must be unconditionally admitted prior to enrolling in any courses in the Instructional Leadership degree program. Candidates who are denied unconditional admission may reapply the following semester. 
• Completion of a Class A program for instructional support personnel requires at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit not used for prior level certification in the same field.
• This program is also offered online.

Phase II: Instructional Leadership Portfolio Submission

Candidates must submit a portfolio to the Instructional Leadership Program for review. The portfolio affords a candidate the opportunity to provide valuable information regarding interests, leadership potential, organizational skills, and other qualifications for unconditional admission into the Instructional Leadership Program. The portfolio should reflect quality work desired for aspiring instructional leaders. The contents of the portfolio will be reviewed and scored by at least three (3) members of the Instructional Leadership Admissions Committee. The portfolio is valued at 30 points toward the final score for acceptance into the program. A minimum score of 21 on the portfolio (70%) must be acquired, Phase III- Interview. A copy of the scoring rubric can be found in Appendix A of the application. Incomplete portfolios will not be considered. The portfolio must contain the following components:

1. Instructional Leadership Program Application for Admission form
2. A current resumé outlining candidate's professional history as well as education, including:
   1. College and university years - reflect on experiences related to becoming an educator to include, but not limited to, organizations, classes, influential persons, etc.
   2. Professional experiences - including, but not limited to, experiences in the classroom, chairperson positions, committee involvement, special assignments, project directorship, and/or military experience.
   3. Professional or personal honors - including, but not limited to, any honor received that was connected to professional or personal experiences.
   4. Professional organizations - including, but not limited to, such experiences as chairperson, officer, committee member, delegate, etc., at the local, state, regional, or state levels.
3. Three Recommendation for Admissions forms, including one from each of the following:
   1. Immediate Supervisor
   2. Colleague
   3. Personal Reference
4. A copy of candidate's valid Alabama teaching license/certificate (Form A)
5. Verification of Experience form
   
   NOTE:  The original, notarized form should be sent via U.S. Mail to the following address:

6. Memorandum of Agreement complete with all required signatures as indicated
7. Completed copy of candidate's most recent performance appraisal/evaluation; the professional development component shall be included, if available.
8. Candidate's Leadership Profile which includes the components listed below. The profile should convey a personal and professional history that assists the Instructional Leadership Advisory Council in knowing the person who is applying. To this end, there is not a preferred format or structure. In preparing the profile, the applicant should set the text in a typed, double-spaced format with an expected minimum of three to five pages.

   1. Brief autobiography of the candidate. Including reasons for pursuing Class A certification in Instructional Leadership.

   2. Evidence of leadership and management potential.  Include at least three accomplishments in the area of leadership such as professional presentations, community service, religious organizations, and/or military service.

   3. Evidence of ability to improve student achievement.  Include examples of strategies used to help students meet instructional goals and methods of motivating students to want to improve.

   4. Summary of expectations of the Instructional Leadership Program.

Phase III: Interview

Each educator candidate must pass an interview conducted by a program admission committee that includes both P-12 instructional leaders and higher education faculty.

Phase IV: Cohort Selection

Utilizing the portfolio and interview rubrics, Admissions Committee members submit individual scores that are averaged to determine the educator candidate's final score. Copies of the rubrics may be found in Appendix A.

At the conclusion of the interview phase, all scores will be reviewed and educator candidates will be notified by letter regarding the status of his/her acceptance into the next cohort group. To be considered for acceptance a minimum score of 38 points (80%) must be obtained in Phases II and III. Educator candidates not selected for the next cohort may schedule a conference with an assigned faculty member to review all scores. These individuals will be eligible to participate again in Phases II and III of the application process at the time the next cohort for the program is being formed.

Requirements for Alabama Class A Certification in Instructional Leadership

The following requirement must be met for successful completion of the Instructional Leadership Program:

1. Have a minimum GPA of 3.25 in all required coursework with no grade lower than a "B" in the certification area courses
2. Receive a passing score on the Praxis II Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision assessment. The Praxis II assessment serves as the comprehensive exam for the Instructional Leadership Program.
3. Have an official transcript from a regionally accredited institution documenting an earned master's degree.
4. A valid Class B Professional Educator Certificate in a teaching field, or a valid Class A Professional Educator Certificate in a teaching field or in another area of instructional support, or a valid Class A Professional Leadership Certificate.

Governance

The Educator Preparation Program and the Educator Certification Program are governed by the Alabama State Department of Education, and the College of Education reserves the right to change requirements in these programs at any time when such changes are mandated by the State Department.