Program Goals

California 's tremendously large and increasingly diverse student population in the public schools and community colleges presents numerous and significant challenges for educational leaders. The pressure of greater accountability for higher student achievement in an environment of uncertain and diminishing resources is one such challenge. Other challenges include fiscal responsibility within an aging infrastructure; meeting the learning needs of complex and diverse communities; oversight and implementation of federal and state education mandates; and retention and replacement of highly qualified education personnel in a collective bargaining environment.

The three program themes of Transformational Leadership, Critical Policy Analysis and Action, and Informed Decision Making were identified specifically to form the basis for a program in which graduates will be better prepared educational leaders who meet and solve California 's complex education challenges. The program will result in graduates who will be:

• Visionary and effective education leaders grounded in applied research and policy development;
• Knowledgeable and sensitive education leaders skillful in guiding organizations to reach high levels of student achievement while promoting access and equity for all students;
• Ethical education leaders who model and promote high standards of professional conduct particularly in the development and implementation of education policy and practices impacting all stakeholders.