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.

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.

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 

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. 

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.

Effective May 15, 2023, participants who have enrolled in at least one CSML course on their own and not through a group enrollment are eligible to receive a 10% discount on each subsequent CSML course. The discount is NOT valid for the first enrolled CSML course. Participants are only eligible to receive the discount after the withdrawal deadline (24 hours after the start of a program*) passes for their first individually purchased CSML course. This discount is only applied to future enrollments and cannot be retroactively applied to a previous enrollment.

Participants who have only enrolled as part of a group enrollment agreement through access codes are NOT eligible to receive this discount.

Discounts are automatically applied to the Program Fee upon time of payment. Discounts are not available after you've submitted payment, so if you think you are eligible for an enrollment discount, please review this discount policy in detail before submitting any payment.

This 10% discount is valid on CSML enrollments submitted on or after May 15, 2023, Eastern Standard Time on the HBS Online website. This discount may not be combined with other scholarships, financial aid, or other offers. Only one discount may be used per order. This discount cannot be redeemed for cash, transferred, or sold. It is void where prohibited by law. These terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. *Please note, this is 24 hours after the program materials become available, not after you log in.

This program is excluded from the use of HGSE Professional Education discounts for HGSE alumni, and is subject to applicable international taxes.