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Progressive Leadership Program (Online)

MSEd, EdM

  • Program Overview

    The Progressive Leadership program prepares experienced educators for leadership roles in schools and district settings.

    Since 1989, the Progressive Leadership program at Bank Street has been preparing students to be educational leaders who study school reform by examining the strengths and possibilities of schools.

    As a student in the Progressive Leadership program, you will learn alongside a dedicated group of educators who share your passion for pre-K through 12 education, building a strong professional network while pursuing challenging coursework and guided fieldwork. Upon graduation, you will qualify for a range of educational leadership roles, including education administrator, assistant principal and principal.

    This program culminates in a Master of Education (for those with a prior master’s degree), or a Master of Science in Education, each requiring 31 credits. This program is offered online.

    Six students work in a small group writing on chart paper in a workshop.

  • Admissions Requirements

    In addition to the main admissions criteria, there are additional requirements needed to apply for this program:

    • Applicant 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. Pupil Personnel positions are (as defined by New York State):
      • School Attendance Teacher
      • School Counselor
      • School Dental Hygiene Teacher
      • School Nurse-Teacher
      • School Psychologist
      • School Social Worker
    • One letter of recommendation must come from a supervisor (Assistant Principal, Principal, Site Director, Head of School, etc.).

    This program is fully online, so you will engage in the use of technology. You must have a dedicated computer or tablet and stable Internet access. You will be expected to become familiar with the online tools, reach out to ask for support as you navigate the technology, and strengthen your presence and skill set in the online environment.

  • Coursework

    View the coursework for this program.

  • Supervised Fieldwork/Advisement

    Supervised fieldwork/advisement lies at the heart of a Bank Street education. Through sustained experiences in the field, supervision from core faculty, and close collaboration with peers, our graduate students develop the ability to connect theory to practice and to reflect deeply on their own growth as educators. In this program:

    • You will be supervised by a Bank Street advisor who is an experienced New York City school leader.
    • Supervised fieldwork extends over the full duration of the program and is generally located at the site where you currently work, with visits from your advisor and mentoring from your site supervisor.

  • Faculty

  • Certification

    Completion of the Progressive Leadership program leads to:

    • New York State School Building Leader (SBL) certification for those who meet experience requirements and pass the state assessments.

    Graduates of the Progressive Leadership program are eligible to take our 5-credit School District Leader sequence and be eligible for:

    • New York State School District Leader (SDL) certification for those who meet the experience and credit requirements, and who pass the state assessments.
Meet our alumni
One of the most important lessons I learned was that no one can impact change without support. This program encouraged me to create and develop relationships with people through teaming, building capacity, being clear with expectations, providing actionable feedback, and creating systems to check and ensure quality.
Kofi Edusei, Jr. - Progressive Leadership '21
Meet Kofi Meet Our Alumni
Jeanette De Jesus, Progressive Leadership '21, Bank Street Graduate School of Education
Meet our alumni
I am proof that we have an opportunity through education to empower young people to change their lives. And as a teacher, I realized that I needed to keep walking the walk. Getting a degree in leadership was transformative for me.
Jeanette De Jesus - Progressive Leadership '21
Meet Jeannette Meet Our Alumni
Graduate student presenting in front of class

Leaders in Education Apprenticeship Program (LEAP), Roc Urban Leadership Program, and Yonkers Urban Leadership Academy (YULA)

Bank Street Graduate School of Education, through a NYS grant, is piloting a new competency-based master’s degree program that has been developed in collaboration with three different districts: the NYCDOE, the Rochester Community School District and the Yonkers School District. In addition, this collaboration includes working with NYCLA for Yonkers and Rochester and Teaching Matters for the NYCDOE. Students will complete 30 credits that culminate in a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership and an institutional recommendation for New York State School Building Leadership.

The intent of the program is to prepare future school leaders who are equipped to meet the expectation of each respective school district. This goal is achieved through the design of competencies, tasks, and assessments through which students demonstrate their knowledge and skills as future school building leaders. By embedding the program in the district, this supports the development of a district leadership pipeline and builds the internal capacity for sustainability.

The Next Generation of Leaders

Our graduates stand out among other graduates in their depth of experience and level of knowledge. They become school principals, superintendents, district leaders, administrators, directors, and more. As part of the next generation of educational leaders, they’re prepared to see the strength within every student—and every school, and every teacher—and transform it into progress.

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