The Center for Educational Leadership in collaboration with the Lake County Education Service Center hosts the Ohio Education Policy Fellowship Program.

The Education Policy Fellowship Program enables emerging leaders in education and related fields to acquire new perspectives and skills needed to function effectively in complex, political, and changing environment of state-level education. Through EPFP, individuals not only develop their leadership potential, but also their knowledge of the policymaking process.

EPFP was conceived in 1964 in response to the growth of the federal role in education under Great Society legislation, such as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The program has produced an alumni body of more than 6,400 individuals who now hold leadership positions at all levels of education, government, policy groups, non-profits, and the private sector throughout the country.

EPFP is defined by three program strands – leadership, public policy, and professional networking. Under the leadership strand, Fellows develop familiarity with leadership theory and concepts, build awareness of themselves and their potential as leaders, and learn from face-to-face interaction with proven leaders. The policy strand engages Fellows in learning about specific policy issues, about the process through which policy is made and implemented, about the various participants in the policymaking process, and about the practices skilled leaders use to function successfully in the policy environment. The professional networking strand implements the belief that relationships are at the heart of good leadership and organizational success.

The Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) provides overall management and direction to EPFP sites nationwide. IEL sponsors the Leadership Forum (LF) in December and the Washington Policy Seminar (WPS) in April, annual plenary conferences that bring a national focus to Fellows’ experiences at the program sites. IEL’s special relationship with leaders of all kinds – academicians, elected and appointed public officials, business trainers, and staffers working for Congress, agencies and associations – brings a world of policy experience and expertise to EPFP Fellows each year. For more information about IEL and EPFP go to http://www.iel.org/epfp

EPFP :

• Is designed for mid and top level leaders at sites in states across the nation.
• Constitutes a 10 month professional development program sponsored by the Institute for Educational Leadership.
• Develops strategic, executive leadership through three organizing learning strands: leadership, public policy, and professional networking.
• Presents learning opportunities through:

  Seminars and guest lectures by prominent speakers
  Small group discussion techniques
  Site visits to the state capitol and exemplary programs
  Simulations, assigned readings, case studies, workshops, and discussions
  Overnight retreats
  Listserv discussions and other forms of electronic dialogue and conferencing
  Co-sponsored sessions with other leadership organizations
  

• Delivers content through a variety of approaches that may include:

  One day-long training session each month, or
  One training session per month that begins with an evening
  seminar, includes an overnight stay, and concludes with a day-long meeting.

EPFP Fellows:

• Are sponsored by their school districts, state departments of education, non-profits and foundations, corporations, individual schools, and self sponsorship.
• Are expected to participate fully and attend two national meetings with EPFP Fellows from all sites, the Leadership Forum (LF) in December, and the Washington Policy Seminar (WPS) in April.

Who should apply for EPFP?

EPFP invites nominations and applications from emerging leaders who have:

• A commitment to personal and professional development on behalf of children and youth;
• A track record for making things happen—inside and across agencies/organizations;
• Substantive work experiences;
• A bachelor's degree or its equivalent;
• A full-time professional position;
• And the endorsement and financial support from their employing organization.

How is the program structured?

Fellows remain in their full-time positions and use their work environment as the context for examining important leadership and policy issues in their states and in the nation. EPFP activities are directed by on-site Coordinators and the schedules vary for site to site. EPFP requires participation in on-site training activities which are generally, but not always, held at the conclusion of the normal work day from September until May.

How much does the program cost?

Each person’s employing agency–the sponsor– or participant pays the base program fee of $2,500, plus an estimated $2,000 travel costs to two national meetings, and any special site-specific programming fees. In addition, the employer provides release time for on-site and national activities. The anticipated total cost for 2009 – 2010 EPFP participants will be approximately $4,500.

Download the following:

  EPFP 2009 – 2010 Application

  2008 – 2009 Schedule (2009 – 2010 Schedule is not yet available.)

  Ohio Site Coordinators

  EPFP Brochure

Application Submission Process:

• Submit the following to the Center for Educational Leadership office by Monday, June 29, 2009 :
  
  
  • Program Application
  • Professional letter of recommendation from your supervisor or employing agency representative
  • Essay responses


• Program Application and other materials should be emailed to center_edleadership@csuohio.edu, faxed to (216) 875-9966, or mailed to:

  EPFP Program
  Center for Educational Leadership
  Cleveland State University
  2121 Euclid Avenue, KB 1508
  Cleveland, OH 44115
  

• Acceptance decisions will be made by a representative group of School and Community Leaders.
• The EPFP Acceptance Committee will notify participants of their acceptance by Wednesday, July 22, 2009 by email and mail.