Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Licensure Requirements for Building Leadership (Principal)
The Building Principal Program in the Department of Advanced Educational Programs meets the requirements of KSDE. Since state licensing requirements vary from state to state, additional requirements for these positions will depend on the requirements of your state department of education. The following are the steps you need to take to receive your licensure as a building principal in the state of Kansas.
Obtaining an Initial Building School Leadership License
Complete the approved FHSU Building Leadership Licensure Program and earn a master's degree (or an FHSU endorsement in addition to an existing master's degree).
For information on passing scores and test registration visit: https://www.ets.org/sls
Test preparation through 240 Tutoring is available for the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (6990). Cost is $25/month--contact kschuckm@fhsu.edu to get the discounted rate.
Apply for an "Initial School Leadership (Building Leadership) License". The first "Initial School Leadership License" is valid for a period of two years from the date of issuance. This is KSDE Form 1 "Application for Kansas Initial License or Added Endorsements" available at, https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Teacher-Licensure-and-Accreditation/Licensure/License-Application on the KSDE electronic web application page. You will need to register to obtain an individual login and password for accessing KSDE web applications. After you complete the form, it will sent electronically to the FHSU Licensure Office.
Each applicant for an initial school leadership license shall submit to the state board the follow:
- An official transcript verifying the granting of a graduate degree
- Verification from an accredited institution by the unit head or designee of completion of a graduate level school leadership program. To receive an institutional verification from Fort Hays State University for the Kansas State Department of Education, applicants for a Building Leadership endorsement must complete the Fort Hays State University approved Building Leadership Program and have a total of 36 graduate hours.
- Verification of a minimum 3.25 GPA in graduate coursework;
- Verification of successful completion of a school leadership assessment as determined by the state board; (register at https://www.ets.org/sls/states/ks)
- Verification of at least one year of recent accredited experience or at least eight semester hours of recent credit;
- An application for initial school leadership license;
- The licensure fee; and
- Verification of five years of experience in a state-accredited school while holding a professional teaching license, a professional school specialist license, a professional clinical license, or a full vocational-technical certificate.
- For T2T completers, the restricted license experience does not count – 5 years of teaching experience after obtaining the initial or professional teaching license is required.
- For Special Education Limited Apprentice License completers, 5 years of teaching experience after obtaining the initial teaching license is required.
- Experience gained while on a Waiver does not count toward the experience requirement;
- Experience gained while on a Provisional License does count toward the experience requirement.
Steps for Obtaining an Initial Professional School Leadership License
A. District Administered Mentoring Program
Candidates must complete the year long district administered mentoring program as a principal or assistant principal. *NOTE: You must be in a position as a principal or assistant principal in order to complete the District Administered Mentoring Program.
B. Policies and Requirements District Administered Mentoring Program
Mentoring and supervision for a one-year period must be provided by the district during the term of the initial license. The assigned mentor must be an appropriately licensed school leader within the district or from another district. The district providing the mentoring/supervision will be required to complete a verification form as part of the upgrade application process for the professional license.
C. Each applicant (you) for a professional school leadership license shall submit to the state board the following:
- Verification of successful completion of the school leadership performance assessment prescribed by the state board while employed in a school accredited by the state board or by a national or regional accrediting agency recognized by the state board;
- Verification of at least one year of recent accredited experience or at least eight semester hours of recent credit;
- An application for a professional school leadership license;
- And the licensure fee.
D. Candidate (you) applies for a "Professional School Leadership License."
This is KSDE Form 21, "Upgrade and Initial School Leadership License to a Professional License based on Mentoring" and is available from KSDE at https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Teacher-Licensure-and-Accreditation/Licensure/License-Application
The license will be available for printing from the KSDE License Lookup page: https://appspublic.ksde.org/TLL/SearchLicense.aspx/SearchLicense.aspx
Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing the application by KSDE.