Are You Ready to #LEAD?
MICHIGAN ONLY PROGRAM
Formerly known as the Aspiring Leaders Program, the #LEAD: Charter School Leaders Program provides a broad overview of the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully lead a charter school in Michigan, as well as providing certification. Through participation in this program, you will be connected to school leaders, experts, resources, and organizations that will ensure your school’s success.
Get inspired, educated and equipped to become a charter school leaders and achieve your potential to lead with excellence.
What You'll Experience as a Leader in Training
The #LEAD Program is designed to build on the important work that you are already doing in your school. All the activities you will be asked to complete are grounded in real-life work-based experiences and will result in the creation of an online portfolio of practical resources that you can continue to use on the job. Participants will gain:
On-Call Mentor
An on-call school leader mentor will help you develop best practices and provide step-by-step guidance.

Experienced Instructors
Learn monthly from experienced instructors while accessing online asynchronous instruction with on-the-job examples.

Helpful Resources
You will build an online portfolio of customized leadership resources that are tailored to your specific needs.

Administrator Certification
Earn K-12 Michigan administrator certification upon successful completion of the program.


Certification Program
In 2022, the National Charter Schools Institute's #LEAD: Charter School Leaders Program was granted approved program status as a MAPSA cooperative program by the Michigan Department of Education as an alternative route for administrator certification. Upon successful completion, participants in this program may be eligible for certification.

#LEAD is a MAPSA cooperative program
Applicant Requirements
Is it your time to RISE? The ideal #LEAD Program candidate is eager to grow leadership skills, is employed by a Michigan charter school, and has the support of school and board leadership. Michigan State Law requires alternative route applicants to possess:
- a master’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university OR
- a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and a minimum of three (3) years of experience as a school administrator or management or leadership experience in a field or fields other than PK-12 or central office administration


How to Apply
Timing
Applications accepted on a rolling basis - apply now!
Cost
$9,850 / per participant
Title II and ESSER funds can be used to help finance your participation in this program. Also, ask your authorizer about sponsorship opportunities.
Apply in 3 Easy Steps
Now accepting applications!
1. Fill out the application
2. Obtain a Letter of Support
Download Letter of Support Template
3. Submit all required documents.
Questions?
Contact Mark Weinberg at MWeinberg@CharterInstitute.org.
We hope that you will take advantage of this outstanding opportunity to improve your charter school leadership skills and connect with people who will push you and inspire you to do great things for our schools and our kids!
Program Details
The National Charter Schools Institute's #LEAD: Charter School Leaders Program is designed to inspire, educate and equip charter school leaders to achieve their potential and to lead with excellence. Previously known as the Aspiring Charter School Leaders Program, #LEAD provides a broad overview of the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully lead a charter school in Michigan. Through participation in this program, you will be connected to school leaders, experts, resources, and organizations that will ensure your school’s success.
This program is designed to meet the unique needs of each participant. We understand that every charter school leader comes with their own background, skills and abilities. Through the use of a participant readiness assessment, we are able to better understand your leadership strengths and the areas in which you could benefit from additional knowledge, training and mentorship. It is our commitment that participation in this program will meet your specific leadership goals and cover important topics areas such as system leadership, instructional leadership, school operations and communications.
Charter school leaders are busy, so carving out time to participate in additional training and leadership development opportunities, while critical, can be difficult. With this in mind, this program is designed to build on the important work that you are already doing in your school. All the activities you will be asked to complete are grounded in real-life work-based experiences and will result in the creation of an online portfolio of practical resources that you can continue to use on the job.
One of the most exciting aspects of the program is that you will be assigned a mentor who is an experienced school leader. You will have someone to encourage and challenge you as you take this journey of leadership development. As you communicate with your mentor, on a regular basis, you will have the opportunity to ask critical questions, brainstorm innovative ideas and work on solving important problems.
The Institute invites you to apply for this competitive and rewarding year-long program. To be eligible to apply for this outstanding program, you must be currently employed in a Michigan charter school and have the support of school leadership and board of directors. As part of the application process you will submit a letter of support from the school in which you are, or will be, employed. Title II and ESSER funds may be used to help finance your participation in this program.
If you are ready to improve your ability to lead and achieve outstanding results for Michigan kids, please take the next step and complete the combined participant readiness assessment and application.
For questions about #LEAD: Charter School Leaders Program, please contact Mark Weinberg at MWeinberg@CharterInstitute.org or call (248) 431-1110.