Exploring the Feasibility of Pursuing the Registration of Alternative School Leadership Training Programs

The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) is the largest public school system in the country and serves over 1 million students in nearly 1,500 schools. NYCDOE's Office of School Leadership asked the Capstone team to explore the feasibility of pursuing the registration of alternative school leadership training programs by the New York State Department of Education. The team researched which organizations provide alternative training/certification for school leaders in the United States and identified each state's rationale in granting alternative routes, and the challenges and lessons learned throughout the process. The team interviewed program administrators and evaluated best practices for achieving state recognition for alternative certification programs, including a description of the process to attain state recognition. The final paper includes recommendations on how NYCDOE and its partners can best pursue state recognition of alternative training programs for school leaders given this national context.