Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility Certification

Upon completion of the residencies, candidates will be eligible for the Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility in PA provided that they also meet the experience and state exam requirements.

Application Requirements

Graduate application and application fee

Transcripts from all previous colleges and universities including any additional certification program(s)

Current resume or curriculum vitae including current/past leadership positions, specific leadership

responsibilities and experiences

Applicants must hold administrative and/or supervisory positions in education

Three letters of recommendation, one of which should be from a school district superintendent or chief

organization administrator if not employed at a school district

500-1,000-word goal statement addressing applicant’s goals and objectives for Superintendent Letter of Eligibility Programand how this program will assist in achieving those outcomes

Teaching certifications and endorsements currently held (optional)

Policies for Completing the Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility Program

1. Maintain at least a B average in all coursework, with not more than one C grade included in this average. Obtaining a second grade of C will cause the students to be dismissed from the university.
2. Enroll for a minimum of six graduate credit hours per year.
3. Work closely with advisor.
4. Each student, in addition to completing the course requirements specified on his or her individual program of studies, must demonstrate, through appropriate practicum activities, field experiences, and a written/oral competency exam (Exit Defense), that he/she has acquired the knowledge, skills, and competencies to render effective leadership in schools and educational institutions. The student’s leadership, scholarship, and interpersonal skills shall be monitored most carefully throughout his/her program of studies and during his/her practicum and field experiences.
5. Satisfy all final evaluation policies and procedures established by the Department of Educational Leadership and Special Education for students in the Letter of Eligibility program.

Student Advisement for the Leadership Residency Program

1. The Department of Educational Leadership and Special Education assigns a faculty advisor for each applicant.
2. The faculty advisor is responsible for reviewing the applicant’s academic records, degrees, and certification held along with past and present professional experiences. After consulting with the applicant, the advisor shall construct an individualized program of study for each applicant designed to meet the professional needs of the applicant as well as satisfying the requirements for certification by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Department of Educational Leadership and Special Education.
3. It shall be the joint responsibility of the student and the advisor to consult with one another on a regular basis while the student is enrolled in the Residency Leadership Program.
4. The student should seek the advice and counsel of his/her faculty advisor when the need arises. The faculty advisor is the contact person for any questions or concerns the student may have relating to his/her graduate program at Shippensburg University.
5. Faculty members shall be invited to participate in an Exit Defense panel at the completion of the program.
6. The faculty advisor shall continually review his/her advisee’s progress, academic work, and general overall standing and report any concerns to both the student and the Educational Leadership and Special Education Department.
7. The faculty of the Department of Educational Leadership and Special Education shall review all students’ academic records prior to recommending a student to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the Superintendent’s Certification.