Central Michigan University

Charter school leadership the focus of new online CMU program

Friday, March 14, 2008

Topics in this story: College of Education and Human Services, Education, Education and schools, Off-Campus Programs

A new online graduate program at Central Michigan University will provide a unique skill set in charter school leadership for current and aspiring educational administrators across the country.

With a rapid increase in charter schools throughout the United States, CMU is addressing the demand for specialized leadership training in this area with an online Master of Arts in educational leadership with an emphasis in charter school leadership.

"This program is one of only a handful in the country to offer a program like this completely online," said Pam Eddy, associate professor of educational leadership at CMU. "With the number of working adults now, it was important to craft a program that meets their professional needs and still allows them flexibility for family demands."

The program, which began in January, is an online program created for those currently working in a charter school and seeking advancement opportunities into administration, working in public schools and desire a career change to a charter school, or other working professionals looking to make a career shift to charter school leadership.

Course work in the 33-credit-hour program will provide a strong base in educational leadership. The program covers critical issues facing school administrators, including issues of finance, law, leadership, data-driven decision making, technology, personnel management and community relationships. Students also receive an opportunity to apply their new learning to real-life examples through the use of practical, hands-on activities and projects.

CMU, home to The Center for Charter Schools, issued its first charter contract in 1994, making it the nation's first, and currently the largest, university authorizer of charter schools. The Center for Charter Schools was established to assist CMU's Board of Trustees in providing oversight and ensuring the accountability of the school boards to which it issued charters. The expertise, systems, practices and procedures the center developed for oversight and support have since gained it acclaim and recognition as a leader in charter public school authorizing.

"Charter public school administrators are often called upon to fill a role that equates to a combination of superintendent, principal and even assistant principal in district public schools," said Jim Goenner, executive director of The Center for Charter Schools. "Having to be very self-sufficient and resourceful, these administrators are creating a new, exciting and highly specialized profession, and CMU has developed a program that will help them excel."

For more information on the new program, visit http://www.cel.cmich.edu/charter/default.html or call the off-campus programs call center at 877-268-4636. Learn more about The Center for Charter Schools at http://www.TheCenterForCharters.org.