Certificate in Advanced Education Leadership (CAEL)

Advance your leadership skills and prepare to make an impact as a preK-12 education leader. This is an online certificate program with significant job-embedded learning.

Overview

The Certificate in Advanced Education Leadership (CAEL), based on the groundbreaking Doctor of Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, provides current and aspiring education leaders with an innovative and flexible online learning experience that develops a robust understanding of the complexities within educational systems, while honing the leadership skills to create transformational change. 

Led by HGSE faculty members, CAEL offers five distinct 12-week online modules which may be taken separately or pursued as a certificate. Participants who wish to earn the certificate must complete the Leading Learning module and can select three of the remaining four modules to complete within 24 months of beginning the program. Leading Learning can be taken at any point within the certificate timeline, and you can begin with any module and complete modules in any order.

The five modules in the CAEL portfolio are:

• Developing Myself
• Driving Change
• Leading for Excellence and Equity
• Leading Learning (required module for the certificate)
• Managing Evidence

Program Details

The experience is designed to be both rigorous and flexible. The activities are asynchronous, allowing you to choose when within a given week you complete them. Each week will require 5-7 hours of work, with more guided work during “learning” weeks (2, 3, 4, and 8) and more job-embedded practice and application during the remaining weeks. Each participant will have a designated online learning facilitator to contact directly for support.

Following successful completion of four modules, a final assignment will be required to receive the Certificate in Advanced Education Leadership. This final assignment provides an opportunity to reflect on the CAEL journey and to look forward, considering opportunities for further application. These final reflections will be 2-3 pages and are required but not graded.

Upcoming Modules

Spring 2018 | February 5 - April 28, 2018

• Leading Learning
• Driving Change
• Managing Evidence
• Developing Myself

Summer 2018 | May 7 - July 28, 2018

• Developing Myself

Fall 2018 | September 24 - December 14, 2018

• Leading Learning
• Leading for Excellence and Equity
• Driving Change
• Managing Evidence

Spring 2019 | February 14 - April 27, 2019

• Leading Learning
• Leading for Excellence and Equity
• Driving Change
• Developing Myself

Summer 2019 | May 6 - July 27, 2019

• Managing Evidence
• Developing Myself

Who Should Participate

CAEL is intended for current and aspiring leaders in preK-12 school systems, including:

• Superintendents and district-level administrators
• Directors of charter management organizations
• Administrators at state agencies
• Experienced principals and teachers who aspire to system-level roles
• Teams of education leaders seeking to strengthen their skills and collaborative capabilities
• Educators are encouraged to apply as teams to increase their impact

Fees & Policies

Tuition includes all instructional materials. Participants receive a certificate of competency as well as a letter confirming the amount of clock hours awarded per module (60 hours). CAEL does not provide course hour equivalents.

Payment or a purchase order must be received within thirty days of program acceptance and prior to the program start. While a purchase order confirms enrollment, an outstanding balance is maintained until payment is rendered. Click here for more information on payment and financial aid.

Please click here for more information on our on-campus and online refund and withdrawal policies.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education reserves the right to change faculty or cancel programs at its discretion. In the unlikely event of program changes, the school is not responsible for non-refundable travel arrangements or other planning expenses incurred.