School District Leader Advanced Certificate
Make a difference in your community with School District Leader (SDL) certification from Bank Street Graduate School of Education. Our online program will equip you with the skills to lead effectively at the district or regional level.
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Connect with our enrollment team and learn more about Bank Street’s online graduate programs.
School District Leader Program Overview
The School District Leader Advanced Certificate program prepares you to lead educational change. As an aspiring district or regional leader, you’ll benefit from Bank Street’s progressive approach to district management, which will expand your skills in supporting and mentoring administrators and teachers to transform student learning experiences.
The online courses for this certificate program are specifically designed to build your leadership expertise and develop methods of creating and implementing change that strengthen the teaching and learning experience and consider the needs of diverse teachers, students, families, and communities.
With this often mandatory credential, you will be ready for district and regional leadership opportunities when they come your way, such as superintendent of schools, director of curriculum, director of student services, and similar positions.
You will learn to:
- Understand and sustain a district’s vision
- Lead reform efforts on the district level
- Make district-wide decisions on instruction and planning
- Manage fiscal and human resources
- Address the management of legal and equity issues
This program is for you if:
- You are seeking skills and credentials for district-level supervisory positions.
- You want to make a difference in education on the district level.
- You already have a master’s or doctoral degree in educational leadership.
- You are a leader with a passion for education and community-building.
School District Leader Certificate at a Glance
11
credits
$1,868
per credit
Three Start Dates
per year
You’ll also have the opportunity to complete fieldwork in your classroom and prepare for the New York State School District Leader Advanced Certification.
Career Outcomes
Bank Street’s fully online advanced certificate program prepares you to serve your community in a variety of roles. Whether you’re interested in becoming a district superintendent or implementing services for special populations, we can help you achieve those goals.
Possible career outcomes for our graduates include:
Instructional coordinators
- Annual mean national salary: $77,200
- Annual mean New York State salary: $81,430
- Annual mean New York City metro area salary: $83,800
School district superintendents
- Annual mean national salary: $111,020
- Annual mean New York State salary: $145,530
- Annual mean New York City metro area salary: $152,780
Administrative services managers
- Annual mean national salary: $121,200
- Annual mean New York State salary: $137,020
- Annual mean New York City metro area salary: $144,300
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024
Note: Salaries can vary based on several factors, including location, educational setting, and level of experience.
The Online Learning Experience
Weekly Breakdown per Class
1 Hour/Week
Synchronous
Five live online class meetings are held, one for each course. They occur every three weeks.
+
1–2 Hours/Week
Asynchronous
Self-paced coursework you must complete each week. Students spend an average hour on each assignment.
+
1–2 Hours/Week
Assignments
Each course includes two discussion posts and one work product. The work products are real-world applications.
+
1–2 Hours/Week
Focus District Project
Each student is required to follow a New York State public school district throughout the semester. Topics correspond to each course.
=
7 Total hour expectations for coursework
Total Hours
Hours are estimates and are subject to change per course.
Between 4–7 hours weekly for the 15-week sequence.
Curriculum
Course Requirements
This course focuses on the key constituencies in a district and the different relationships that exist among them. It includes understanding the district’s vision, how it was developed, and how it is sustained. The course also examines a district’s demographic and achievement data.
This course looks at the varied roles and responsibilities of the superintendent/district leader and ties them to the challenges of creating and sustaining dynamic, humane, effective learning communities. It emphasizes the ways that district leaders’ decisions—in such spheres as instructional policy, planning, fiscal and human resources, facilities, legal and equity issues, accountability, and external relationships—affect schools’ capacity to engage students and strengthen achievement.
This course focuses on how human and financial resources are allocated in a district to support the instructional program and the goals of the superintendent and school board.
This course focuses on examining a district’s budget from multiple points of view: theoretical, conceptual, and practical. Participants will become familiar with all phases of the budget process, from its inception to its implementation throughout a district. Content will be closely aligned, whenever possible, with the “real world” budgets currently in place in districts.
Strong leadership at the district level is essential if schools are to become positive and successful learning environments for diverse learners, including children with disabilities and those at risk of failure. This course covers issues that enhance or create obstacles for inclusive schools and communities. Issues of equity are evident in most school districts and challenge educators to transform educational environments and processes to meet diverse needs. The course will address the issue of “achievement gaps” as well as links between social class and achievement in schools.
Fieldwork in an appropriate setting with supervision and advisement.
TOTAL CREDITS: 11
Suggested Electives (to be taken as needed to fulfill the required 60 graduate credits)
With the approval of their advisors, candidates may take appropriate courses for credit from Bank Street’s Continuing Professional Studies. Many of the Continuing Professional Studies courses have weekend formats.
Program Admissions
Bank Street Graduate School of Education seeks applicants who demonstrate the following:
- A GPA of 3.0 (B average) or higher from a regionally accredited college or university
- An aptitude for completing graduate-level coursework and academic projects of substantial scope and depth, as well as a capacity for making positive contributions in their professional lives
- Sensitivity to others, flexibility, and a willingness and capacity to engage in self-reflection
- Positive interpersonal skills in relationships with both children and adults
- A healthy motivation and commitment both to learning and to children
Meet Our Alumni
“When I decided to go back to school, Bank Street was my only choice because of its reputation. When people hear I am a graduate, they know I have been educated by the best. It’s a real confidence booster.”
Olinka Crusoe, ’18
Educational Leadership
Teacher Development and Evaluation Coach (TDEC)
NYC Department of Education
District 16 Superintendent’s Office
Is the SDL program the right fit for your goals?
Contact a member of our team today to learn more about our online advanced certificate program and how it can support your career growth.
Contact UsTell us about yourself.
Connect with our enrollment team and learn more about Bank Street’s online graduate programs.