This is a named option in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis Ph.D.
The Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis (ELPA) offers a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis named option in Wisconsin Idea Executive Ph.D. Cohort that focuses explicitly on K-12 leadership for dramatically improving student performance and closing achievement gaps.
The theme of District and School Leadership for Equity and Excellence is infused through most courses, and supported by theoretical and empirical, as well as practical, understandings. The program provides a coordinated plan that allows students to defend their dissertation within three to four years. The dissertation focuses on school, district, or community efforts to improve performance for all students. Cohort students receive training in qualitative and quantitative inquiry and analysis, and are expected to develop a study design for the dissertation that is appropriate to addressing their research questions.