Non-Degree District Leadership (Superintendent) Endorsement

The Department of Advanced Education Programs also offers a non-degree District Leadership (Superintendent) Endorsement for those who want a specialized administrative endorsement, but do not want to pursue the Specialist in Education Degree. Earning this endorsement will give you specialized training in the skills that will help you become a stronger educational leader.

If you choose to pursue this non-degree option, you must apply to the FHSU Graduate School as a non-degree seeking student.

Non-Degree District Leadership (Superintendent) Endorsement Requirements

Master's degree and Building Leadership (Principal) Endorsement.
A total of 18 credit hours outlined below
Minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA in all graduate course work.
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 clinical license, or a full vocational-technical certificate

Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing the application by KSDE.

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 superintendent or assistant superintendent. *NOTE: You must be in a position as a superintendent or assistant superintendent 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 http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=153.

The license will be available for printing from the KSDE License Lookup page: https://appspublic.ksde.org/TLL/SearchLicense.aspx/SearchLicense.aspx

Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing the application by KSDE.

Endorsement in District Leadership (Superintendent) Course Requirements

Course #		FALL	SPRING	SUMMER
EDL 901	District Technology Operations and Management	Aug-Oct 8 weeks	Jan-March 8 weeks	June 4 weeks
EDL 951	District Administration	Aug-Oct 8 weeks	Mar-May 8 weeks	June 4 weeks
EDL 952	District Administration Trends and Practices	Oct-Dec 8 weeks		July 4 weeks
EDL 954	District Finance		Mar-May 8 weeks	June-July 8 weeks
EDL 955	District Facilities	Oct-Dec 8 weeks	Jan-Mar 8 weeks
EDL 979	District Practicum (Must be taken last)	Aug-Dec 16 weeks	Jan-May 16 weeks

Course availability is subject to change due to low enrollment.

EDL 901: District Technology Operations and Management This course is designed to help candidates seeking district-level positions within a preK-12 school district understand and demonstrate the capacity to promote the use of the Future Ready Technology Leaders Framework and International Standards for Teacher Education (ISTE) Standards for Educational Leaders. This course will develop students’ skills in becoming an advocate for equity and citizenship, visionary planner, empowering leader, systems designer, and connected learner.

EDL 951: District Administration This course is designed to assist prospective district building administrators in developing a fundamental knowledge and application of administrative roles and responsibilities for the efficient operation of the school district as mandated by state statutes and the local school board. Key topics addressed are: supervision and evaluation of school personnel; scope of authority over operations; fiscal, curriculum, instruction; collective bargaining process; and long range planning.

EDL 952: District Administration Trends and Practices This course is designed to assist prospective district administrators in developing fundamental knowledge and application of current trends and practices that impact district administration. Key topics addressed are: understanding district vision for learning, networking and collaboration, district culture of learning, attitudes toward social media, district management and policy, technology integration and 21st century learning, data driven decision making, and the implication of Open Educational Resources.

EDL 954: District Finance The school superintendent is in charge of more than just instructional aspects or the supervision of the employees and educators of a school district. A large part of the superintendent's duties includes the financial responsibilities of the district. This course is designed to develop the skills needed for working with the fiscal activities in public education, including knowledge of state and local responsibilities, sources of revenue, and other functions related to financing public school education at the district level.

EDL 955: District Facilities This course is designed to assist prospective district administrators in developing fundamental knowledge and application of the responsibilities associated with the planning, remodeling, maintaining, and operating an educational facility. Key facility topics addressed are: bond elections, transportation, technology infrastructure, maintenance planning; audits; providing a safe learning environment; school and ground maintenance; staff and contractor management; and evaluation of maintenance efforts.

EDL 979: District Practicum (Must be taken last) This course is designed to relate educational administration theory to practice in a realistic fashion. The student is placed in a situation where experiences may be obtained relating to positions in Central Office Administration.

(Revised 1/19/2024 2:35 pm)

Program of Study

For more information on this program, and how it might benefit your career, please contact Mrs. Amanda Frank at adfrank@fhsu.edu.