Executive Education
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    ... Right arrow Topic-Focused Programs Right arrow Public Education Leadership Project Right arrow Overview

    Public Education Leadership Project

    Public Education Leadership Project
    • Dates: TBD
    • Format: In-Person Learning takes place on the HBS campus or a designated location.
    • Location: HBS Campus
    • Fee: TBD
      • For more details, please visit the PELP project page.
    Program Finder
    Need Help? Contact Us:
    Ms. Carina Traub
    Email: pelp@gse.harvard.edu
    Telephone: 1.617.496.1819
    Send a Letter of Interest
    Need Help? Contact Us:
    Ms. Carina Traub
    Email: pelp@gse.harvard.edu
    Telephone: 1.617.496.1819
    Send a Letter of Interest
    Program Announcement
    The information below is based on the prior program session and does not reflect potential changes to faculty and course content for future program offerings. For a list of upcoming programs, visit our program finder.

    Summary

    Improved student performance depends on strong leadership, a culture of collaboration, and a dedication to accountability across a school district. This program helps leaders from U.S.-based urban school systems apply proven management concepts to their districts' unique challenges. Joining with other administrators and educators from across the country, your team of eight leaders from your district will refine your management model, develop new improvement strategies, and learn how to serve your students more effectively.

    This program is offered through collaboration between its namesake, the Public Education Leadership Project (PELP), which is a joint initiative of the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and Harvard Business School (HBS), and the HBS Social Enterprise Initiative.

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    Summary

    Improved student performance depends on strong leadership, a culture of collaboration, and a dedication to accountability across a school district. This program helps leaders from U.S.-based urban school systems apply proven management concepts to their districts' unique challenges. Joining with other administrators and educators from across the country, your team of eight leaders from your district will refine your management model, develop new improvement strategies, and learn how to serve your students more effectively.

    This program is offered through collaboration between its namesake, the Public Education Leadership Project (PELP), which is a joint initiative of the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and Harvard Business School (HBS), and the HBS Social Enterprise Initiative.

    Key Benefits

    In this unique program, your district team will learn and grow together, build management and leadership skills, and acquire new ability to achieve long-term excellence across all schools in your district. You will return to your district with new ideas and strategies that you can implement successfully.
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    Develop, communicate, and execute a strategy for improving your schools
    Build high-performance leadership teams that continue to learn and grow
    Adapt successful practices from other school systems to the needs of your district
    Expand your personal and professional network
    • Extend your network by living and working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries across the globe
    • Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your business challenges and career decisions
    • Gain access to a valuable network of previous program participants

    Key Benefits Dropdown down

    Key Benefits Dropdown down

    In this unique program, your district team will learn and grow together, build management and leadership skills, and acquire new ability to achieve long-term excellence across all schools in your district. You will return to your district with new ideas and strategies that you can implement successfully.
    Develop, communicate, and execute a strategy for improving your schools
    Build high-performance leadership teams that continue to learn and grow
    Adapt successful practices from other school systems to the needs of your district
    Expand your personal and professional network
    • Extend your network by living and working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries across the globe
    • Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your business challenges and career decisions
    • Gain access to a valuable network of previous program participants

    Who Should Attend

    The program is designed for teams of eight participants who are responsible for urban school systems with at least 20,000 enrolled students.
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    The district's superintendent must always be among the eight team participants. Other members of the multilevel leadership team might include:
    • Central office administrators
    • School principals
    • Regional supervisors
    • Union leaders
    • Teacher leaders
    • Community liaisons
    • Members of the school board, board of education, or school committee that governs the district
    Districts can build capability by sending new teams to the program over three or more consecutive years. To facilitate continuity, teams from districts returning to the program may send one additional past participant beyond the superintendent.

    Who Should Attend Dropdown down

    Who Should Attend Dropdown down

    The program is designed for teams of eight participants who are responsible for urban school systems with at least 20,000 enrolled students.
    The district's superintendent must always be among the eight team participants. Other members of the multilevel leadership team might include:
    • Central office administrators
    • School principals
    • Regional supervisors
    • Union leaders
    • Teacher leaders
    • Community liaisons
    • Members of the school board, board of education, or school committee that governs the district
    Districts can build capability by sending new teams to the program over three or more consecutive years. To facilitate continuity, teams from districts returning to the program may send one additional past participant beyond the superintendent.
    Participating Companies Have Included:
    Austin Independent School District
    Boston Public Schools
    Chicago Public Schools
    Denver Public Schools
    Los Angeles Unified School District
    Madison Metropolitan School District (Wisconsin)
    Montgomery County Public Schools
    Orange County Public Schools (Orlando)
    Saint Louis Public Schools
    San Francisco Unified School District
    Dive Deeper into the Experience
    Play video
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    Inside the ClassroomInside the Classroom
    See how exchange with faculty and peers yields new insights into critical business trends.
    Watch the VideoWatch the Video
    Play video
    Play video
    We Celebrate New Ways of Thinking. Are You Ready?We Celebrate New Ways of Thinking. Are You Ready?
    Thrive in a learning environment that welcomes diverse ideas and perspectives.
    Watch the VideoWatch the Video
    Play video
    Play video
    Discover more about business. And yourself.Discover more about business. And yourself.
    Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.
    Watch the VideoWatch the Video

    Learning and Living at HBS

    When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned HBS case method.

    Review Our Campus Health & Safety Protocols

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    Learning and Living at HBS

    Participating Companies Have Included:
    Austin Independent School District
    Boston Public Schools
    Chicago Public Schools
    Denver Public Schools
    Los Angeles Unified School District
    Madison Metropolitan School District (Wisconsin)
    Montgomery County Public Schools
    Orange County Public Schools (Orlando)
    Saint Louis Public Schools
    San Francisco Unified School District
    Dive Deeper into the Experience
    Play video
    Play video
    Inside the ClassroomInside the Classroom
    See how exchange with faculty and peers yields new insights into critical business trends.
    Watch the VideoWatch the Video
    Play video
    Play video
    We Celebrate New Ways of Thinking. Are You Ready?We Celebrate New Ways of Thinking. Are You Ready?
    Thrive in a learning environment that welcomes diverse ideas and perspectives.
    Watch the VideoWatch the Video
    Play video
    Play video
    Discover more about business. And yourself.Discover more about business. And yourself.
    Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.
    Watch the VideoWatch the Video

    When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned HBS case method.

    Review Our Campus Health & Safety Protocols

    Admissions Criteria and Process

    Participation in this program requires that the school district's superintendent or designee submit a letter of interest due by February 28, 2022. For more information, please contact the Public Education Leadership Program at pelp@gse.harvard.edu or +1.617.496.1819.
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    Application Submission

    We recommend that you apply at least four weeks before the program start date. You may use our online form or download an application. HBS maintains all application information in strict confidentiality. We acknowledge receipt of applications via email. In the unlikely event that you do not receive an acknowledgment, please email us at exed_admissions@hbs.edu or call us at +1.617.495.6226.

    Application Review

    To optimize the learning experience and maximize the exchange of ideas, our Admissions Committee makes selections that balance each participant's experience, scope of current responsibilities, and type of organization. HBS seeks candidates who reflect a broad range of industries, functions, countries, and backgrounds. We review applications monthly and will contact you via email with the Admissions Committee's decision.

    In March 2022, the PELP staff will reach out directly to your school district's superintendent and designated point of contact to notify you of your acceptance status. At that time, you will be provided further instructions on how to register your eight-member district team.

    Answering Your Questions

    For further assistance, contact: Harvard Graduate School of Education, Carina Traub, Senior Project Manager, Email: pelp@gse.harvard.edu; Telephone: +1.617.496.1819, or Program Advising team at: 1.800.427.5577 (outside the U.S., call +1.617.495.6555)

    Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

    The program fee covers tuition, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals. You will be invoiced upon admission to the program. Invoices are due within 30 days of receipt, or upon receipt if the program start date is less than 30 days from the invoice date. If you need to cancel or defer your participation, you must submit your request in writing more than 30 days before the start of the program to receive a full refund. Cancellation or deferral requests received 14 to 30 days prior to the start of the program are subject to a fee of one-half of the program fee. Requests received within 14 days are subject to full payment.

    Admissions Criteria and Process Dropdown down

    Admissions Criteria and Process Dropdown down

    Participation in this program requires that the school district's superintendent or designee submit a letter of interest due by February 28, 2022. For more information, please contact the Public Education Leadership Program at pelp@gse.harvard.edu or +1.617.496.1819.

    Application Submission

    We recommend that you apply at least four weeks before the program start date. You may use our online form or download an application. HBS maintains all application information in strict confidentiality. We acknowledge receipt of applications via email. In the unlikely event that you do not receive an acknowledgment, please email us at exed_admissions@hbs.edu or call us at +1.617.495.6226.

    Application Review

    To optimize the learning experience and maximize the exchange of ideas, our Admissions Committee makes selections that balance each participant's experience, scope of current responsibilities, and type of organization. HBS seeks candidates who reflect a broad range of industries, functions, countries, and backgrounds. We review applications monthly and will contact you via email with the Admissions Committee's decision.

    In March 2022, the PELP staff will reach out directly to your school district's superintendent and designated point of contact to notify you of your acceptance status. At that time, you will be provided further instructions on how to register your eight-member district team.

    Answering Your Questions

    For further assistance, contact: Harvard Graduate School of Education, Carina Traub, Senior Project Manager, Email: pelp@gse.harvard.edu; Telephone: +1.617.496.1819, or Program Advising team at: 1.800.427.5577 (outside the U.S., call +1.617.495.6555)

    Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

    The program fee covers tuition, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals. You will be invoiced upon admission to the program. Invoices are due within 30 days of receipt, or upon receipt if the program start date is less than 30 days from the invoice date. If you need to cancel or defer your participation, you must submit your request in writing more than 30 days before the start of the program to receive a full refund. Cancellation or deferral requests received 14 to 30 days prior to the start of the program are subject to a fee of one-half of the program fee. Requests received within 14 days are subject to full payment.
    Program content, dates, schedule, fees, technology platforms, and faculty are subject to change. In accordance with Harvard University policy, Harvard Business School does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or disability in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities.
    Program Finder
    Need Help? Contact Us:
    Ms. Carina Traub
    Email: pelp@gse.harvard.edu
    Telephone: 1.617.496.1819
    Send a Letter of Interest
    Need Help? Contact Us:
    Ms. Carina Traub
    Email: pelp@gse.harvard.edu
    Telephone: 1.617.496.1819
    Send a Letter of Interest
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