Exceptional and Innovative Programs in Educational Leadership

Educational administrator preparation programs have received criticism for inadequate program quality. Despite these criticisms, there are a number of programs and features of programs that are both innovative and exceptional. This article reviews standards of practice and examples of strong preparation programs for school and district administrators. Common to all of the programs is a clear vision that drives programmatic decisions and provides students with opportunities to connect to the knowledge base through carefully designed field experiences integrated into the academic program.