Progressive Leadership Program (Online)

This program begins in the fall term.

Application Deadlines

• Applications are reviewed in rounds to ensure you receive a timely decision.
• You will have five business days after the application deadlines to finish providing any missing required materials. Incomplete applications will be moved to the next round for consideration.
• In some cases, applications submitted after the final deadline will be reviewed on a space available basis.
• We strongly encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. This guarantees the most timely admissions decision and the broadest consideration for scholarships and financial aid.

Fall

Admissions Criteria

In addition to meeting other admissions requirements, to be eligible for admission to the Progressive Leadership program you must:

• Demonstrate three years of paid, full-time work experience as a classroom teacher (must be as a head teacher or lead teacher, not as an assistant or associate teacher) or as a pupil personnel professional in an appropriate school site (early childhood through adolescent settings)
• B​e employed in an appropriate role and setting throughout the duration of the program Pupil personnel positions (as defined by New York State) are:
  • School Attendance Teacher
  • School Counselor
  • School Dental Hygiene Teacher
  • School Nurse-Teacher
  • School Psychologist
  • School Social Worker
• Provide one letter of recommendation from a supervisor (Assistant Principal, Principal, Site Director, Head of School, etc.)

Please review our How to Apply page for full details on the application process, admissions criteria, and application requirements.

Tuition

At Bank Street, tuition is charged per credit. The Progressive Leadership Program requires 31 credits for completion.

Read More About Tuition

Financial Aid

The majority of Bank Street students receive some type of financial aid. We strongly recommend applying early and submitting your FAFSA at the time you apply for the broadest consideration for scholarships and financial aid.

Read More About Financial Aid

Technology Requirements

This program is fully online, and you must secure access to the following required technology for all online courses:

• A personal computer with:
  • Broadband Internet access
  • Speakers, microphone, and camera
  • Headphones, if participating from a public or shared space
  • An updated version of the Chrome or Firefox browser and a free Zoom account
• For Supervised Fieldwork: A recording device (such as a smartphone, laptop, iPad, or camcorder) suitable for use in classrooms

These are required components of your program. It is your responsibility to ensure you have access to each item on this list. Bank Street does not provide or lend access to these devices and platforms.

Our Approach

Since 1989, the Progressive Leadership Program has been at the forefront of preparing educational leaders who develop the strengths and possibilities of schools. Our online curriculum is interactive, personalized, and experiential. Courses and fieldwork are firmly rooted in constructivist pedagogy, where experiential, humanizing, and liberatory leadership is not just theoretical, but put into practice.

Time Commitment

Classes are all online and synchronous, and typically meet eight times per semester on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 5:00 PM–7:00 PM or 7:00 PM–9:00 PM ET. Students should expect to spend roughly 20 hours per week on program-related study/activities.

Course Plan

Fall (9 credits) 

• LEAD 503PR Adult Development: Implications for Educational Leadership
• LEAD 537PR Organizational Development: Implications for Educational Leadership
• LEAD 9181PR Leadership Supervised Fieldwork/Advisement

Spring (9 credits) 

• LEAD 510PR Leading Critical Issues in Curriculum and Instruction
• LEAD 660PR Research for Educational Change
• LEAD 9182PR Leadership Supervised Fieldwork/Advisement
• TEWS 500N* State Mandated Workshop on Child Abuse Identification
• TEWS 501N* State Mandated Workshop on School Violence Prevention (SAVE)
• TEWS 708N* State Mandated Workshop on Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)

Summer Long (4 credits + PLPF 500) 

• LEAD 530PR Educational Policy, Advocacy, and Law
• LEAD 621PR Fiscal Management for Educational Leaders
• PLPF 500PR PLP Portfolio: Project Registration Fall (9 credits) LEAD 603PR School

Fall (9 credits) 

• LEAD 603PR School Change: The Transformational Leader
• LEAD 615PR Processes of Supervision and Professional Development
• LEAD 9183PR Leadership Supervised Fieldwork/Advisement

31 CREDITS TOTAL

*Unless documentation is submitted

Learning Through Experience and Reflection

Supervised fieldwork and advisement lie at the heart of a Bank Street education. Through sustained leadership experiences, close supervision from experienced faculty, and meaningful collaboration with peers, you will learn to connect theory to practice and reflect deeply on your growth as leaders.

Fieldwork is not an add-on—it is an integrated, developmental experience that supports your journey to become an educational leader and changemaker.

Sustained Fieldwork in Your Professional Context

Supervised fieldwork extends over the full duration of the program and is generally located at the K–12 site where you currently work. This structure allows you to apply new learning immediately and meaningfully to your own school or organization, strengthening the connection between theory and day-to-day leadership. During your fieldwork, you will serve as an apprentice to a principal, assistant principal, director, or other educational leader, gaining hands-on experience across key areas of school leadership.

Advisement and Mentorship

Throughout the program, you will be guided by a Bank Street advisor who is a current or former school leader. Your advisor provides individualized supervision, observation, and feedback, helping you translate coursework into leadership practice.

In addition, you will work closely with an on-site mentor at your fieldwork site. Together, your advisor and mentor form a strong support system that encourages reflection, growth, and confident leadership.

SBL Certification

Your supervised fieldwork serves as the “16-month internship” and provides the 450 hours of supervised leadership experiences required for New York State certification as a School Building Leader.

Certification

Along with a master’s degree, the Progressive Leadership Program leads to a New York State School Building Leader (SBL) certification for those who meet experience requirements and pass the state assessments.

Read  more about certification

Careers

Upon graduation, you will be equipped for a range of educational leadership roles in schools and district settings that focus on school reform and educational equity, including education administrator, assistant principal, principal, coach, director, dean, curriculum leader, and consultant. Your legacy in educational justice begins here.

Students at Bank Street have full access to our robust Career Services, including the CareerConnect job site, opportunities to attend job fairs and workshops, and connections to our alumni network nationwide.