K-12 Leadership at a Glance

Degree

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership with a concentration in K-12 Leadership

Program Benefits
  • Learn within a part-time structure designed to support working education leaders
  • Build skills in instructional leadership, culturally responsive practice, and improvement science
  • Apply learning in a yearlong internship, developed in collaboration with district leaders
  • Conduct original dissertation research aligned with your research interests
  • Prepare for superintendent and school administrator licensure in North Carolina
  • Join a powerful network of Carolina alumni leading at the highest levels of K–12 education
Credit Hours

54+

Estimated Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition and fees for graduate programs at UNC–Chapel Hill are determined by the University and can be calculated on the University Cashier website.

Licensure

The Ed.D. concentration in K–12 Leadership leads to North Carolina Superintendent Licensure through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. To be eligible for this license, candidates must hold an active North Carolina Principal License at the time they complete the program and apply for licensure. 

Licensure
Accreditation

The Ed.D. concentration in K–12 Leadership is fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). 

Best For

Education leaders who are ready to deepen their leadership practice, pursue superintendent licensure, and lead school systems with purpose, vision, and a commitment to student success and well-being.

Academic Programs

Educational Leadership

About the Program
Curriculum & Courses
Licensure
Career Preparation
Tuition & Financial Aid
Program Faculty & Staff
How to Apply and Deadlines
Contact Us

Because of the excellent teaching, supervision in field experiences, and mentoring that I have received from the faculty of the UNC School of Education, I have entered the professional field confident in my level of preparation to succeed in my career.

Gwen Roulhac '15 Ed.D.
Gwen Roulhac

Building Educational Leaders

Elena Ashburn
Alumna joins North Carolina Governor’s office as senior education policy advisor

Elena Ashburn has long viewed education as a calling — one that has taken her from teaching high school English to shaping education policy at the highest level of North Carolina’s government.   In early 2025, Ashburn (’12 M.S.A., ’18 Ed.D.) was named senior advisor for education policy on Governor Josh Stein’s policy team — a…

Tia Byers (left) and Darren Williams (right)
Doctoral students Tia Byers and Darren Williams recognized as 2025 David L. Clark Scholars

UNC School of Education doctoral students Tia Byers and Darren Williams were recognized as 2025 David L. Clark Scholars by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA).  As Clark Scholars, Byers and Williams will participate in the 2025 David L. Clark Graduate Student Research Seminar in Educational Administration and Policy. This honor is awarded to…

Doctoral student named to the National Assessment Governing Board

Oct. 1, Lisa Ashe, a UNC School of Education student in the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, was one of eleven education leaders appointed by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees the Nation’s Report Card. The Nation’s Report Card, also known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress…

Doctoral student Kaki Blackburn
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership student Kaki Blackburn named 2023 David L. Clark Scholar

Since beginning her career in education and teaching in public schools across the U.S., Katherine “Kaki” Blackburn has been focused on improving systems to provide resources to the schools and students who need them the most. “As a teacher, I found that I was having to spend a lot of time and energy getting resources…