M.A. in Educational Leadership and Policy

Overview

The Educational Leadership and Policy program at the University of Rhode Island prepares working professionals for school leadership through a curriculum grounded in equity, instructional leadership, and data-driven decision-making. Candidates integrate their learning directly into their current roles through embedded clinical experience, developing the critical skills needed to drive meaningful change and improve student outcomes.

Per the Rhode Island Department of Education, candidates who complete a Rhode Island Approved Educator Preparation Program are eligible for full certification in Rhode Island and are eligible for certification in other states through reciprocity under the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. Reciprocity requirements vary by state. See our FAQ for details.

As a Carnegie R1 research institution, URI pairs this practitioner-focused preparation with research-grounded practice, a combination not offered by other regional educational leadership programs. Candidates build a personalized course sequence with the program director rather than following a fixed cohort schedule, with flexible fall, spring, or summer starts. 

Program Facts

• Degree: Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Policy
• Credits: 36 (Foundation Coursework: 15 credits; Methods & Application Coursework: 15 credits; Internship: 6 credits)
• Format: Online — synchronous and asynchronous coursework
• Pace: Flexible, typically completed over 8–9 semesters (approximately 3 years); personalized sequencing with the program director
• Start terms: Fall, spring, or summer
• Clinical experience: 500+ hours of embedded fieldwork in the candidate’s current school or district
• Certification: Prepares candidates for Rhode Island PK-12 Building-Level Administrator certification; additional coursework available toward Superintendent or Director of Special Education pathways
• Standards alignment: Rhode Island Standards for Educational Leaders (RISEL), NELP, and applicable ISTE standards
• Accreditation: Nationally accredited by AAQEP; Approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education
• Application deadlines: Fall – August 15 · Spring – November 15 · Summer – April 1
• Tuition (2026–27): $951 per credit (in-state) · $1,852 per credit (out-of-state)(RISEL), NELP, and applicable ISTE standards

Program Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this program, candidates will understand and demonstrate the capacity to promote the current and future success and well-being of each student and adult in their school community by applying the knowledge, skills, and commitments necessary to:

Goal #1 – Strategic Leadership and Visioning

1.1 – Collaboratively lead, design, and implement a school mission, vision, and process for continuous improvement that reflects a core set of values and priorities, including data use, technology, equity, diversity, digital citizenship, and community.
1.2 – Demonstrate the capacity to advocate for ethical decisions and cultivate and enact professional norms.
1.3 – Develop and maintain a supportive, equitable, culturally responsive, and inclusive school culture.

Goal #2 – Curriculum and Instructional Leadership

2.1 – Develop, implement, and evaluate coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, data systems, professional development, and assessment.
2.2 – Ensure that instructional practices align with standards, are consistent with knowledge of student learning and development, and are intellectually engaging.

Goal #3 – School Improvement

3.1 – Engage families, community, and school personnel to strengthen student learning, support school improvement, and advocate for the needs of their school and community.
3.2 – Foster a professional community of teachers and other professional staff to promote each student’s academic success and social and emotional well-being.

Goal #4 – Management and Resource Planning

4.1 – Develop coherent management, communication, technology, school-level governance, and operation systems to promote each student’s academic success and well being.
4.2 – Build the school’s professional capacity, engage staff in the development of a collaborative professional culture, and improve systems of staff supervision, evaluation, and support.

Course Delivery Format

This program is delivered fully online, combining synchronous and asynchronous sessions. A variety of instructional methods are used, including lectures, discussions, case studies, presentations, cooperative learning activities, internet assignments, guest practitioner presentations, and written and verbal assignments. Courses are taught by URI full-time and part-time faculty.

The program is led by a full-time director with more than two decades of PK-12 leadership experience, including service as a school principal and as President of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Coursework is taught by a combination of full-time faculty and practicing school leaders, including Dr. Michael Sollitto, 2024 Rhode Island Superintendent of the Year, and Dr. Peter Cummings, Superintendent of Narragansett Schools and 2027 Rhode Island Superintendent of the Year, giving candidates direct access to leaders currently working in the field.

Graduates are prepared for PK-12 Building-Level Administrator certification in Rhode Island, with additional coursework available for those pursuing Superintendent or Director of Special Education certification.