Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML)

The Certificate in School Management and Leadership (CSML), a multi-course certificate program for PreK-12 school leaders, is an innovative collaboration between the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and Harvard Business School (HBS). Bridging the fields of business and education, CSML integrates expertise in managing teams and organizations with best practices in educational leadership, to provide school leaders with frameworks, skills, and knowledge to effectively lead and drive change improvement in schools. 

Hosted on the highly interactive HBS Online platform, CSML offers participants the opportunity to reflect on and apply the course learnings to their unique context, while interacting with and learning from a global network of school leaders. 

The CSML certificate will be comprised of the following four courses, which can be taken independently or completed together in any order to earn a comprehensive certificate:

• Leading Change 
• Leading School Strategy and Innovation 
• Leading People 
• Leading Learning

Upcoming Courses

• Leading Change Course Calendar (June 2023)
• Leading School Strategy and Innovation Course Calendar (June 2023)
• Leading People Course Calendar (June 2023)
• Leading Learning Course Calendar (June 2023)

• Leading Change Course Calendar (July 2023)
• Leading School Strategy and Innovation Course Calendar (July 2023)
• Leading People Course Calendar (July 2023)
• Leading Learning Course Calendar (July 2023)

To receive more information and updates on future CSML course offerings, please request information here.

Participant Experience

Hosted on the innovative HBS Online platform, CSML courses are entirely virtual, highly interactive, and case-based. Course participants:

• Engage in case-based learning with HGSE and HBS faculty on topics that include education, business, and policy
• Watch virtual case studies featuring leaders from a representative cross-section of U.S. schools and businesses, and analyze the leaders’ experiences, insights, and best practices
• Engage in interactive activities to learn and network with a diverse group of participants who hold school leadership positions worldwide
• Reflect on their practice, knowledge, skills, and understandings—and identify opportunities to apply course learnings to their unique context
• Gain first-hand experience with the case-based and inductive learning model
• Learn in a flexible, online platform that creates a powerful peer-to-peer learning experience adapted to fit school leaders’ busy schedules

Each CSML course takes place over four weeks and will require approximately three to four hours of work each week. Course activities are both rigorous and flexible. The course learning format allows participants to choose when within a given week they complete an assignment while engaging with specific content and projects during designated time periods. This approach enables cohort members to work through the course elements together and fosters peer-to-peer learning, a vital component of the CSML experience. Participants will be able to download course materials including key takeaways at the end of each week.

Who Should Participate

CSML is designed for school leaders who are looking to deepen their knowledge of educational leadership and management in schools. Specifically:

• Early-career and experienced school leaders, including teacher leaders responsible for supporting and managing teams of teachers or other school staff
• District, charter, faith-based, and independent school leaders
• School, district, or school management leadership teams 

Application Process and Completion

Applications are processed through HBS Online. By submitting an application for the CSML program, you are applying to the four courses within CSML. If accepted to the program, participants must enroll in the course of their choice.

The HBS Online platform, including the application and courses, is designed to work on an internet-connected desktop or notebook computer running either the Chrome or Firefox browser. Tablet computers and smartphones are not supported by the HBS Online platform at this time. Click here for more information. 

Course Completion
Upon successful completion of an individual course, participants will receive a certificate of course completion issued jointly by HGSE and HBS. 

Certificate Completion 
Participants who successfully complete all four CSML courses by the stated deadlines and actively contribute to the vibrant HBS Online learning community will receive the comprehensive Certificate in School Management and Leadership. Participants pursuing the certificate can begin with any CSML course and complete the courses in any order.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

English language proficiency is a requirement for application to and successful participation in this online certificate. All participants are expected to have fluency in English, including a basic knowledge of education terminology, in order to effectively engage with the content, complete assignments, and interact with other members of the learning community.

Fees and Policies

This program is excluded from the use of HGSE Professional Education discounts for HGSE alumni.

Payment
Please note: payments are only accepted by credit card or wire transfer within the HBS Online portal

Checks, Purchase Orders, or other forms of payment are not accepted. All payments must be received by the deadline posted on the Payment page to guarantee your participation in each CSML course.

Please visit the HBS Online Support Portal for any payment inquiries and questions.

Tuition Assistance
Tuition includes all instructional materials; all materials for the program are available on the online course platform. Tuition assistance is not available for this program. Payment must be received prior to the program start. We accept credit card or wire transfer payments only through the HBS Online portal. The fee must be paid in full upon registration. 

Refund and Withdrawal Policies
Please click here for information on the Certificate in School Management and Leadership policies regarding certificate eligibility, deferrals, withdrawals, and refunds.

We reserve the right to cancel programs at our discretion. In the unlikely event of program changes, the school is not responsible for planning expenses incurred.

Disability Accommodation Requests
Accommodation Requests for this program are reviewed and processed through HBS Online. Click here to review the full Disability Accommodations Request Policy and Procedures. Participants with documented disabilities or medical conditions may request reasonable accommodations by contacting hbsonlineaccommodations@hbs.edu. Please do NOT send medical documentation directly via this email.