K-12
Leadership Certification Programs
Responding to PI 34: Implications for Certification
and Licensure
Responding to changes in State administrative rules, the ELPA Program Committee has recently revised
all certification programs leading to licensed administrative positions
in Wisconsin. This includes programs for superintendents, principals,
directors of special education/pupil service, directors of instruction,
and program coordinators for local vocational education. Anchored in the
ISLLC Standards (Interstate School Leader Licensure Consortium) for school leaders and Wisconsin PI 34 Standards for Administrators,
program components include sequenced course work, field studies embedded
in classes, the development of a whole school improvement plan, administrative
field experiences, and the development of an electronic portfolio that
documents learning and exhibits levels of performance against the standards.
Students are also required to present their portfolio at a practitioner
reviewed showcase conference sponsored in the department.
The Department offers courses
leading to professional certification. Completion of these programs leads
to state certification and licensure as an administrator.
Information follows regarding admission, program requirements, minimum
standards and progress toward certification and transfer credits. Applicants
are responsible for following the departmental policies as stated below.
These requirements are effective for all students admitted after July
1, 2004.
ADMISSION
Individuals seeking administrative certification must be admitted to
one of the certification programs in The Department of Educational Leadership
and Policy Analysis (see admissions: http://www.education.wisc.edu/elpa/admissions).
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INSTITUTIONAL ENDORSEMENT
Students seeking institutional endorsement from UW-Madison must enroll
in a minimum of six credits at UW-Madison.
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SPECIAL STUDENT COURSE WORK
The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis will accept
a maximum of six (6) credits of special student course work toward the
completion of any certification program. Contact the Office of Special
and Guest Students at http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/info/current.htm.
If more than 6 credits are required to complete the license, a student
must enroll as a Graduate Student (see admissions: http://www.education.wisc.edu/elpa/admissions).
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TRANSFER CREDITS
Transfer credits must have been taken in accredited graduate level programs.
Requests for evaluation of previous non UW-Madison course work requires
submission of transcripts and course descriptions.
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PROGRAM APPROVAL
After admission, candidates are required to develop a program plan (as
well as subsequent amendments and changes) in conference with an academic
advisor, and submit the proposed program plan to the Department Chairperson
for approval as soon as is practical following admission to the program.
Programs plans are downloadable at http://www.education.wisc.edu/elpa/reference/forms.htm
Exceptions, equivalencies, and competencies to the minimum certification
program requirements may be made by the Department upon request by the
student and advisor through the Department Chairperson.
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MINIMUM STANDARDS AND PROGRESS TOWARD
CERTIFICATION
Students are required to maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0. A minimum
overall 3.0 GPA in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis courses
must be maintained at all times.
COURSE SEQUENCE
Courses will be taken in a quasi-cohort format with the first block of
courses taken before the second block, etc.
Block I ELPA 702, 735, 848
Block II ELPA 703, 725, 845
Block III ELPA 830, 840, 847
Students will develop portfolio entries in their course work and will
provide reflective essays on the demonstrations of their skill development
at the end of each block. Students will produce culminating integrative
entries in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis 305-849 (a school
improvement plan) and Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis 305-830
(a resource reallocation plan). Students will assess their professional
learning in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis 305-700/900 and
will develop a professional development plan to guide their field experience
and ongoing learning beyond the program, and tie together their portfolio
of work developed throughout the program.
Portfolio description and process can be found at:
http://www.education.wisc.edu/elpa/academics/degrees/portfoliorequirement.htm
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FIELD EXPERIENCE/PRACTICUM
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Description
The Practicum or Internship is the culminating experience for all students
seeking certification as principal, supervisor director of curriculum,
pupil services director, business manager or superintendent. A meaningful
experience requires the involvement of a University supervisor and a mentoring
administrator in a school or district setting. A meaningful experience
is also based on the needs and goals of the student, as well the context
of the specific school setting for the practicum/internship. More real
experience provided under the guidance of the University supervisor and
the school based mentor, improves the opportunity for the student to integrate
theory and practice . Ideally the experience would be structured over
an entire school year to gain an appreciation of the complexity and ever-changing
role of the administrator. Responsibility for a successful practicum or
internship rests primarily with the student supported by the supervisor
and mentor.
As a culminating experience the internship/practicum reflects the mission
and values of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.
That is, the practicum/internship should be designed to promote instructional
leadership focused on equity, inquiry and reflection. Novice administrators
are not expected to be accomplished instructional leaders, but they should
experience a wide variety of administrative responsibilities and activities
designed to improve teaching and learning. Budget development, attending
administrative meetings, scheduling, and student supervision are examples
of administrative responsibility that are best understood in the context
of supporting improved teaching and learning for all children. The concept
of instructional leadership requires that the student inquire and reflect
about administrative work as it affects the equitable use of resources
to achieve learning for all.
A critical part of the practicum/internship is a review of the student’s
portfolio conducted as part of a mock interview process. The student’s
academic advisor or other University faculty will collaborate with accomplished
practitioners and school superintendents to conduct “mock”
interviews that review the students portfolio and provide feedback about
portfolio exhibits and job readiness.
Finally, the practicum is legally required by the Wisconsin Department
of Public Instruction. As such the practicum must be based on the Wisconsin
Standards for Administrator Development and Licensure and meet the time
requirements as prescribed by state law. Students must document 150 hours
of supervised experience for the primary administrative license and 75
hours for other administrative licenses. The standards for school administrators
and other administrative licenses are listed below.
Department of Public Instruction Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 34.15
(Quality Educator Initiative)
http://dpi.wi.gov/tepdl/qualedinit.html
(3) (b).
c) Practicum program. 1. Programs for pupil services and administrative
licenses shall include supervised practicums in the area of licensure
that are developmental in scope and sequence.
2. As a result of the practicum experience a license candidate shall
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Wisconsin standards in
PI 34.02, PI 34.03 or PI 34.04.
3. Successful performance shall be measured using all of the following:
a. At least 2 written evaluations based upon observations by the school-based
supervisor and at least 2 written evaluations by the SCD supervisor shall
be required during each student’s practicum.
b. The evaluation procedures under subpar. a. shall include at least
2 conferences involving the school-based supervisor, the SCD supervisor
and the practicum student. The school-based supervisor evaluation of the
practicum shall become part of the student’s portfolio.
(d) Graduate internship program. 1. Advanced programs shall include
a graduate internship in the area of licensure that is developmental in
scope and sequence.
2. As a result of the intern experience, a license candidate shall demonstrate
knowledge and understanding of the Wisconsin standards under s. PI 34.02,
34.03 or 34.04, as appropriate.
3. Supervision and primary responsibility for the student shall rest
directly with the licensed local school district supervisor and indirectly
with the college or
university supervisor.
Policies and Practices
Registration for Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis 700/900
Permission to register is required and is granted by the practicum coordinator
or student services coordinator 608-263-2701. Students should register
only once for all Master’s level licenses, i.e. if seeking a principal
license and a director of instruction license, only enroll in 700/900
one time not each time you are completing the requirements for a license.
Hours
One hundred fifty (150) hours of supervised experience is required for
one license and 75 hours for each subsequent license as the minimum standard.
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Memorandum of Understanding 
The student is required to submit a “Memorandum of Understanding
” that documents the completion of the legal requirements
regarding the practicum.
Example of Reflection Log
Example of Principalship Practicum Components
Example of Superintendent Log 
Example of Director of Special Education and Pupil Services Log
Portfolio
Shari Smith, Student Services Coordinator, coordinates the ELPA portfolio requirement.
For further information on the requirement, contact ssmith@education.wisc.edu.
In accordance with PI 34, the Department has a portfolio requirement for all certification students. Students seeking initial certification as Principal, Director of Instruction, Director of Special Education and Pupil Services, or Superintendent must participate in practicum classes and labs to successfully complete and submit their own individual electronic portfolio to a faculty committee for review. The electronic format for the ELPA format was developed collaboratively by ELPA faculty and the School of Education’s EPSC (Education Placement and Career Services) office. The format is designed as a learning tool to assist students in conceptualizing and demonstrating educational leadership. Each portfolio is comprised of five components: four dimensions of leadership, and a professional vision statement. Students create exhibits for the components that demonstrate their leadership proficiency in each of the dimensions that coincide with the Department’s mission and vision for instructional leadership. As required by PI 34 the portfolio is designed to reflect and integrate the seven Wisconsin Administrative Standards and the approximately two hundred knowledge, dispositions, and performance indicators associated with those standards.
For more information about the ELPA Portfolio, please visit:
http://www.education.wisc.edu/elpa/academics/degrees/PortfolioRequirement.html
Professional Development Plan (coming soon)
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Grades
A final grade will be given when the following criteria have been addressed:
• The requirements for the classroom portion of 700/900 have been
completed.
• All the parties to the Memorandum of Understanding has counter-signed
and attested to the completion of the practicum as outlined in the memorandum.
• All of the logged hours for the field experience/internship have
been submitted to the UW practicum supervisor.
• A Professional Development Plan and Portfolio have been submitted
to the UW practicum supervisor.
Additional certification for licenses after the completion of 700/900
and the initial license certification
• Complete a Memorandum of Understanding for all subsequent license
certifications.
• Log the hours of the field experience and submit the log to the
practicum supervisor.
• Submit a revised Professional Development Plan and Portfolio to
the practicum supervisor.
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OBTAINING AND SUBMITTING A WISCONSIN LICENSE
APPLICATION
A. Obtain and complete a license application. Applications are available
on the DPI website
http://dpi.wi.gov/tepdl/applications.html
B. Submit the completed application form(s) and other DPI required documents,
any and all official transcripts that list courses taken in fulfillment
of certification requirements, and if paying by check, a check for $100
made payable to the Department of Public Instruction to the Graduate Admissions
Office, 1152 Educational Sciences, 1025 W. Johnson St., Madison, WI 53706.
C. Course work will be verified and the application with the University
endorsement will be forwarded directly to the Department of Public Instruction.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI)
http://dpi.wi.gov/tepdl/index.html provides information on:
•PI-34 New DPI education program approval and license rules
•Renewing a teaching license
•Holding certification in another state, but seeking licensure in
Wisconsin
•Adding new areas of certification
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