Course
PQP-SI4
PQP2: Leading School Improvement
Lead real-world school improvement efforts by executing your Leadership Practicum project.
Building on the foundation of Phase 1 (PQP Part I), this culminating course provides you with the structure, support, and expert guidance needed to implement and refine your school improvement initiative. Through a combination of self-guided study, facilitated seminars, and expert mentorship, you will actively apply leadership theory to practice—navigating challenges, aligning resources with student and school priorities, and fostering meaningful, measurable change.
You will participate in structured reflection and facilitated discussions with peers, receiving expert feedback as you document and refine the leadership strategies used in your practicum. This process will strengthen your ability to lead sustainable, equity-focused school improvements while deepening your understanding of data-informed decision-making, instructional leadership, and stakeholder engagement.
By the end of this course, you'll have successfully executed and documented your Leadership Practicum project, demonstrating leadership competencies aligned with the Ontario Leadership Framework (OLF) and the capacity to implement school improvement initiatives.
This course leads to PQP Part 2 Qualification.
Learning Outcomes
Candidates who successfully complete the course will have demonstrated the ability to:
- Develop a plan to implement your leadership practicum project, applying research-based strategies to direct, motivate, and manage people, resources, and school environments.
- Create strategies to communicate a shared vision and mission, secure stakeholder buy-in, and set long- and short-term performance expectations.
- Identify and apply practices for building and modeling productive relationships with students, families, staff, teacher federation representatives, and the broader community.
- Assess school-specific needs and leverage educational partnerships, resources, and staff to cultivate a collaborative, supportive, and safe school culture.
- Set performance indicators to monitor progress, track deliverables, manage timelines and budgets, and report on accountability.
- Foster a growth and innovation mindset that supports staff development, achievement, and capacity-building.
- Design, implement, and assess instructional strategies and curriculum to enhance student learning and school-wide improvement.
- Integrate social justice and anti-racism into all facets of school leadership, including team dynamics, growth, supervision, evaluation, design, and implementation.
Notes
✅ Technical Requirements:
A computer with a camera, headphones/speakers, microphone, and high-speed internet is required to access OISE course materials and resources.
✅ Master of Education (MEd) Candidates:
OISE MEd candidates in the Educational Leadership & Policy Program may take:
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Phase One (Course 1-3) as elective LHA1060
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Phase Two (Course 4) as elective LHA1061
Approval from Dr. Karen Acton, Program Coordinator, is required to pursue this pathway. Admission to these courses is separate from the MEd Program and is subject to approval by OISE Continuing and Professional Learning.
For details about the Educational Leadership & Policy MEd, contact the Department of Leadership, Higher & Adult Education.
Prerequisites
Before registering, please ensure that you meet the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) prerequisites for the Principal’s Qualification Program (PQP) Part 2. Candidates must have:
- Proof of successful completion of ELP Phase 1 or PQP1
- An approved leadership Practicum Proposal
- A completed self-reflection questionnaire
- As part of the application process, candidates will be asked to complete a self-reflection questionnaire, which will serve as a preliminary reflection of your Leadership Practicum.
Recommendations
- Successful completion of this course represents the final requirement of the Principal's Qualification Program (PQP) Part II.
- Upon successful completion of the course:
- Qualified candidates will be recommended to the OCT for the PQP Part 2 qualification.
- A Master Certificate of Completion will be awarded from OISE Continuing & Professional Learning at the University of Toronto.
Status
Course can be applied towards