How to Apply to the Principal Leadership Institute

Admissions Criteria

The UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies requires that all PLI applicants meet the following criteria.

  • Five years of full-time teaching or personnel service experience preferred.
  • Successful undergraduate performance (at least 3.0 g.p.a. in the Jr/Sr years and/or a successful graduate academic history, if applicable)
  • Optional, not required – Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
  • Well-written, reflective essays
  • Strong recommendations (including one from a current supervisor)
  • Ability to communicate well in group settings

Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Criteria

To be admitted to PLI, applicants must also meet the Commission on Teacher Credentialing’s conditions which apply to the Tier I Credential (the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential).

Applicants for the Tier I Credential must:

  • Possess a valid California teaching or services credential including a Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential, a Designated Subjects Teaching Credential (provided the applicant possesses a bachelor’s degree), a Pupil Personnel Services Credential, a Health Services Credential, or a Clinical Rehabilitative Services Credential
  • Have a minimum five years of successful, full-time experience in the public schools or private schools of equivalent status when they begin PLI
  • Pass the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST)
  • Complete a program of specialized and professional preparation in administrative services from an approved university, PLI in this case

 

How to Apply

Please read the PLI Application Checklist for all of the details before you start the application process.

  1. Online Application
    Complete the UCLA Graduate Admissions Application.
    The fee for U.S citizens and Permanent Residents is $120.
  2. Upload Supporting Documents
    The PLI Application Checklist outlines the process of submitting each supporting document.

    • Copy of transcripts (we also need an official transcript to be mailed to UCLA; see Step 4)
    • Statement of Purpose: Why do you want to become a social justice school leader in an urban community?
    • Essay Response: Please see the PLI Application Checklist for the essay topics.
    • UCLA Graduate Council Statement of Purpose
    • UCLA Graduate Council Personal Statement
    • Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
    • Optional, not required – Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score report from the Educational
      Testing Service. (This may be directly reported to UCLA. You may choose to upload this in the
      Supporting Documents upload section.)
      Preferably, all prospective students to the PLI program should take the GRE exam by January 1st.
  3. Three letters of recommendation – submitted online
    One recommendation must be from your current supervisor.
  4. Mail official transcripts
    In addition to uploading copies of your official transcripts, they must also be mailed to us.
    Send transcripts to:
    UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies
    Office of Student Services
    1009 Moore Hall, UCLA Box 951521
    Los Angeles, California 90095-1521

 

Application Checklist

Here is the PLI Application Checklist that outlines the steps of the application process.

Assistance

The Office of Student Services looks forward to assisting you throughout the PLI application process. Please contact Kim Matheussens () if you have any questions.

Leading for Justice

The  application filing period is open and will close February 1, 2021.
Application Checklist

Principal Leadership Institute (PLI) Alumni

PLI is a pedagogic space like none that I have encountered – a transformative one – that nurtured my mind and pushed me to grow as an instructional leader. I joined a collective group of caring educators eager to transform schools and left the program with a strong network of lifelong friends, along with a comprehensive set of foundational skills to support our youth and communities in relevant and purposeful ways.

Danya Villanueva

Reading Intervention Teacher, Mt. Vernon Elementary School

My experience in PLI was transformational. In spite of over 15 years of teaching for social justice, it was not until the experience of working intimately with talented colleagues under the inspiring tutelage of instructors in this program that I felt I truly discovered my role and purpose.

Daryl Brook

Principal, New Los Angeles Charter

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