Table of ContentsThe program is designed so that students can retain their full-time professional role while earning their degrees. Classes meet in person on specified weekends during the semester, beginning on Friday evenings, so that they don’t interfere with the typical schedules.
Like many of the other programs in this guide, this one follows the cohort model, so you can work closely with your fellow students and create a unique community of passionate education leaders.
The program culminates with a capstone project, which represents the ideal of scholar-practitioners, in which students engage in original empirical research around an existing program for a client organization.
Ed.D., Educational Leadership and Policy:
K-12 Concentration
Our doctor of education program in Leadership and Policy offers two concentrations: K-12 Education and Higher Education.
This program is designed for what we refer to as “scholar-practitioners”—people who want to deeply understand (and engage in) the scholarship of a particular topic, not only in theory but in practical application. They want to master this topic at an academic level and put it into use in a way that’s effective and that people understand.
Most students in the K-12 concentration are educators with at least 3-5 years of experience. As they begin to advance into leadership positions, they’re looking to deepen their understanding of the education system so that they can enact meaningful change.
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What Can You Do with an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy?
If you’re someone who wants to influence both policy and practice, this program is for you. Many of our students have teaching or school counseling experience and have become school-level leaders, such as vice principals, principals and district administrators.
Typically, students want to earn their Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy to both improve the work they currently do in their schools and eventually move to a higher leadership position in their school system. They often have goals of becoming a superintendent, non-profit administrator or state department leader, for example.
Graduates of the Educational Leadership and Policy program are able to make an immediate and lasting impact on their schools, their school system (think: district, charter network or independent school), their community through non-profit work and their state through state-level roles.
Graduates of the Educational Leadership and Policy program are ready to make an immediate impact in the field of K-12 education. Alumni are currently serving in a variety of roles focused on educational impact and reform including:
- Superintendent of Schools, Mountain View Whisman School District
- CEO, Tennessee Charter School Center
- Executive Director, Pivot School Improvement
- Founder, Aventura Community School
- Executive, Scholastic Learning
- Director of Programs and Outreach, Tennessee Department of Education
- Upper School Division Head, Curry Ingram Academy
- Director of Research, Center for Education Reform
The Ed.D. Program at Peabody: Embracing Diversity
One of the most rewarding aspects of the student experience in the Educational and Leadership Policy program is the diversity of backgrounds and beliefs our students bring to the classroom.
Ed.D. candidates come from traditional public schools, charter schools and independent schools, each bringing a unique insight and experience to the table. This diversity of ideas is more than beneficial—it’s essential.
By having a deeper understanding of the challenges K-12 students and systems face, graduates are able to recognize the ways to solve them. When we work together, we create the best possible outcomes.
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The curriculum includes leadership and organizational change; social context and equity in school systems; policy, history, and governance; school finance; improving teaching; organizing for improvement; and research methods.
Here is a sample selection of courses you’ll be able to take as part of this program:
- EHLP 8110 Advanced Leadership Theory and Behavior
- EHLP 8120 Advanced Learning and Performance in Organizations
- ELP 8150 Leadership for School Improvement
- EHLP 8810 Decision Analysis I-Logic of Systematic Inquiry
- EHLP 8140 Social Context of Educational Leadership and Policy
- EHLP 8851 Decision Analysis II-Quantitative Analysis
- ELP 8210 Resource Allocation and Deployment
- ELP 8230 Politics and Governance in Education
- ELP 8240 Education Law
- ELP 9330 Teachers and Teaching
- ELP 9500 K-12 Seminar
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Ellen Goldring
Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy
Vice Dean, Office of the DeanProfessor Goldring’s research examines school and district leadership practice, and the implementation and effects of interventions such as professional development, coaching and performance feedback. She is the recipient of the Roald F. Campbell Lifetime Achievement Award from the University Council of Educational Administration. She is the editor-in-chief of the American Educational Research Journal.
Learn More about the K-12 Concentration
To explore the K-12 Concentration and how it can help you reach your personal and professional goals, visit our program page. Or, click the links below to get started.
