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Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Program
Program Overview
The High Tech High Graduate School of Education (HTH GSE) Preliminary Administrative Services Credential (PASC) program prepares equity-driven leaders through culturally responsive leadership frameworks, deeper learning pedagogy, and liberatory education practices. Grounded in our core learning outcomes—Transform Self and Systems, Design for Liberation and Deeper Learning, and Practice Thoughtful Inquiry & Reflection—the program connects theory to practice with hands-on, inquiry-driven experiences that prepare leaders to tackle complex challenges and advance justice in K-12 schools.
For aspiring leaders in California, this program provides a supportive pathway to administrative roles such as Assistant Principal, Principal, Director of Special Education, Curriculum Specialist, Program Manager, Coordinator of Dual Enrollment or District Data Specialist.
HTH GSE PASC program offers a 10-month PASC only pathway and a 20-month Master’s in Educational leadership with a PASC pathway. Both pathways begin in August and follow a cohort model. Candidates engage in supervised fieldwork focused on equity, instructional leadership, and community engagement. Candidates will complete three required CalAPA cycles while receiving personalized support through coursework directly aligned with each task.
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Pathways
10 month online (PASC only)
- Continue working full time while pursuing your credential
- Week-long in-person immersion in San Diego to launch the program (August)
- Class Schedule:
- Wednesdays from 4-6 pm (weekly online)
- Thursdays from 4-5:30 pm (bi-weekly online)
20 month online (M.Ed. + PASC)
- Continue working full time while pursuing your master’s degree and credential
- Week-long in-person immersion in San Diego to launch the program (August)
- Class Schedule:
- Year 1:
- Wednesdays from 4-6 pm (weekly online)
- Thursdays from 4-5:30 pm (bi-weekly online)
- Year 2:
- Tuesdays from 4-6 pm (weekly online)
- Thursdays from 4-5:30 pm (bi-weekly online)
- Year 1:
All class schedules are listed in Pacific Time
*times subject to change*
TUITION (Fall 2026):
| Preliminary Administrative Services Credential (PASC) | Non-degree (10-month) | |
| Tuition | $9,000 | |
Please note: The standalone PASC program is not eligible for federal student loans. | ||
| Educational Leadership (EdL) + PASC | M.Ed. + PASC (20-month) Year 1 | M.Ed. + PASC (20-month) Year 2 |
| Tuition* | $13,000 | $10,000 |
Important Dates
We are now accepting applications for our Fall 2026 cohort. Please take a moment to review our application guide for more information about our Admissions process, and submit your materials by our priority deadline!
Priority Admission Deadline: Sunday, November 30
Program Launch: August 2026 (In-Person- San Diego)
Information Session:
Wednesday, November 5 at 6:00 pm PT (register here)
Curriculum
Core Courses:
- Core Values and Design Principles (Immersion Week): Delivered in person at HTH GSE in San Diego, this course prepares candidates to lead for deeper learning by introducing seminal topics, foundational critical pedagogy texts, and project based learning as we build a trusting and connected community of learners.
- Leading for Liberation: Culture, Conflict, & Conversation: In this course, students develop as leaders for DEI through action and reflection at the personal, interpersonal, institutional and structural levels.
- Design for Deeper Learning: This course builds the capacity of school leaders to design for transformational learning environments by cultivating the conditions that lead to Deeper Learning.
- Facilitating Adult Learning: This course examines the levers of environmental architecture, professional learning, and one-on-one coaching that school leaders utilize to support adult learning.
- Positive School Culture & School Law: In this course, students examine how educational and constitutional law intersect with the development of positive school culture.
- Financial Resourcing for Equity: This course provides students with an understanding of education funding and explores how leaders leverage budgets for equity by collaborating with diverse stakeholders.
- Leading Innovative Schools: This course interrogates the conditions of “innovation,” the future of education, and the change leadership required to create, redesign, and lead transformational learning.
California Administrator Performance Assessment (Cal APA) Seminar:
This course is designed to support administrative credential candidates in completing the three Leadership Cycles for the CalAPA. In this course, candidates will examine the assessment requirements and expectations for candidate performance, while deepening our understanding of the CalAPA cycles, scoring rubrics, and explanatory materials. Candidates will engage in formative field experiences such as analyzing data, facilitating collaborative professional learning, and coaching for improved instruction, as well as apply CalAPA rubrics to related assignments.
Admission Requirements
- Verification of minimum of four years of full-time experience in public school, nonpublic school, or private school of equivalent status located in California or another state, or a combination of experience earned in California and another state. teaching, pupil personnel work, librarianship, health services, clinical or rehabilitative services, or a combination of teaching and school services equal to four years. Candidates must obtain a letter on official letterhead from the school or school district, and it must state that the minimum of four years experience was full-time or show that full time hours were completed. Additionally, it must show the beginning and ending dates of hire and be signed by the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, or HR personnel. The signature must either be ‘wet ink’ or an acceptable electronic signature. HR forms with original signatures may also be accepted in lieu of a letter as long as they meet all the requirements mentioned above.
- A valid Clear California credential
- A valid California clear or life teaching credential
- A valid California clear or life Designated Subjects Teaching Credential
- A valid clear or life California Pupil Personnel Services Credential, Teacher Librarian Services Credential, Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential, Clinical or Rehabilitative Services Credential, or a School Nurse Services Credential
- Active connection to a TK–12 school with regular and ongoing access
- Engaged in an educational setting where coursework can be applied directly to your professional context
- Brings expertise and experience in areas such as instructional design, pedagogy, social-emotional learning, community and family engagement, and organizational leadership
- Self reflective, growth oriented, open to feedback, and brings an unwavering equity lens to practice
- Collaborative, and passionate about reimagining schools
Program Completion & Recommendation Requirements
In order to be recommended for a California Preliminary Administrative Services Credential candidates must pass all program coursework/fieldwork and provide evidence of the following:
- Submit a Verification of Employment as an Administrator (CL-777)* see below
- Possess a valid California Clear Teaching or Services Credential (with at least one year remaining on document).
- Verify five years of teaching or services experience**
- Pass all three CalAPA cycles
* Learn more about requirements for the Five-Year Preliminary Credential CTC Website
