The Horizon Leadership Academy (HLA) – MASA’s long-standing alternative route to administrator certification – now has a Special Education component!
Horizon+SE is a collaboration between MASA and the Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education (MAASE). This state-approved program allows qualified candidates to earn an Administrator Certificate and Central Office endorsement as part of the HLA program, while also gaining Special Education Administrator or Director approval through additional coursework focused on leadership standards in special education.
Cohorts are forming now and space is limited!
Applications are due no later than Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 for a Jan. 2025 start!
See below for more details about Horizon+SE.
Visit gomasa.org/horizon for complete program details and to start the application process.
Important Details
For more information about Horizon+SE, click on the tabs below.
NOTE: Candidates must complete both the Horizon Leadership Academy and the additional +SE coursework to obtain Special Education Administrator or Director approval. Please refer to the Horizon Leadership Academy website for specific information that is applicable to all candidates.
Candidates must apply and be accepted into the Horizon Leadership Academy and qualify for the +SE coursework. Upon joining a cohort, candidates must complete HLA’s general education curriculum, along with the specialized +SE curriculum and mentoring and internship requirements.
(e.g., after completing HLA Day 6, +SE candidates will complete Day 6A, which includes tailored content, assignments, and assessments.)
All candidates (HLA and HLA+SE) will complete the program together, earning the relevant certificates, endorsements, and SCECHs.
To enroll in +SE coursework, candidates must meet MARSE Rules 340.1781–340.1799 and be enrolled in the Horizon Leadership Academy.*
Candidates must have a degree in and three years of successful practice or administrative experience in special education, or a combination of practice and experience. That can be in the classroom, at the district level, as a related service provider etc. (Speech Language Pathologist, Special Education Teacher, School Psychologist, School Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Audiologist, Transition Coordinator).
*A candidate who has successfully completed the Horizon Leadership Academy since 2020 (version 2.0) and meets the MARSE rules is eligible to enroll in the +SE coursework. Please see our FAQ below for more details.
In addition to the required general education curriculum provided as part of the Horizon Leadership Academy, +SE candidates will complete coursework in the following areas:
- Professional Organizations for Resources/Collaboration
- Least Restrictive Environments
- Instructional Leadership
- Assistive Technology
- Alternative Curriculum
- Special Education Funding
- Human Resources (Special Education Personnel)
- Child Find
- Transitioning Part C to Part B
- Compliance
- Law and Public Policy
Please visit gomasa.org/horizon for complete HLA program details and to start the application process.
Applications are due on Dec. 13, 2024 for cohorts beginning in Jan. 2025. Space is limited!
Qualified candidates will be notified of program acceptance after all materials have been reviewed. Please note that some candidates may be waitlisted.
Cohort Information
Candidates can choose to enroll in either an in-person or virtual HLA cohort.
All +SE coursework is delivered in a virtual format.
Each cohort has specific dates, and participants are required to attend all sessions. (See below)
In-Person HLA
The following dates are for the in-person cohort of the HLA program beginning in Jan. 2025, with +SE coursework (for applicable candidates) noted in bold.*
(*In-person HLA sessions are held at the MASA Office, 1001 Centennial Way, Lansing, MI 48917 | All +SE coursework is delivered in a virtual format via Zoom.)
Click the image below to view and download a handy calendar version of this information.
Session Dates:
Jan. 21 & 22, 2025
Feb. 18 & 19, 2025
March 24 & 25, 2025
→ April 14, 2025
April 21 & 22, 2025
June 23 & 24, 2025
→ June 30 & July 1, 2025
Sep. 22 & 23, 2025
→ Oct. 6, 2025
Oct. 27 & 28, 2025
Dec. 8 & 9, 2025
Jan. 12 & 13, 2026
→ Feb. 2 & 3, 2026
Feb. 17 & 18, 2026
→ March 2, 2026
March 16 & 17, 2026
April 20 & 21, 2026
June 22, 2026
Virtual HLA
The following dates are for the virtual cohort of the HLA program beginning in Jan. 2025, with +SE coursework (for applicable candidates) noted in bold.*
(*Virtual HLA sessions and all +SE coursework is delivered via Zoom. Links will be sent directly to participants.)
Click the image below to view and download a handy calendar version of this information.
Session Dates:
Jan. 23 & 24, 2025
Feb. 20 & 21, 2025
March 20 & 21, 2025
→ April 14, 2025
April 24 & 25, 2025
June 26 & 27, 2025
→ June 30 & July 1, 2025
Sep. 25 & 26, 2025
→ Oct. 6, 2025
Oct. 30 & 31, 2025
Dec. 11 & 12, 2025
Jan. 15 & 16, 2026
→ Feb. 2 & 3, 2026
Feb. 19 & 20, 2026
→ March 2, 2026
March 19 & 20, 2026
April 23 & 24, 2026
June 25, 2026
Program Cost
Limited Scholarship Opportunity Available!
Up to 25 +SE candidates† will receive a $3,000 discount.
†Awarded based on a first-come first-served basis to a maximum of 25 candidates accepted to the program and joining a cohort beginning Jan. 2025.
*NOTE: +SE coursework fees are in addition to the required HLA application fee and HLA program tuition. Learn more at gomasa.org/horizon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please refer to the Horizon Leadership Academy website for specific information that is applicable to both general education and special education candidates.
Yes! Candidates must successfully complete the HLA program, along with all +SE special education coursework requirements. This includes completing all assignments with an overall grade of 3.0 or higher, a minimum of 38 mentoring hours, at least 446 internship hours, and a minimum of 350 hours of work-based experience. Additionally, candidates must meet MARSE Rules 340.1781–340.1799, achieving full approval in at least one area of relevant special education training and experience.
No. Candidates must have a degree in and three years of successful practice or administrative experience in special education, or a combination of practice and experience. That can be in the classroom, at the district level, as a related service provider etc. (Speech Language Pathologist, Special Education Teacher, School Psychologist, School Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Audiologist, Transition Coordinator).
Yes, as long as the candidate has completed the HLA program (since 2020) and meets MARSE Rules 340.1781–340.1799.
In addition to the curriculum, the following requirements apply:
Supervisor:
- 14 mentoring hours
- 437 internship/work-based experience hours (up to 200 hours of prior district-level work experience may count toward this requirement)
Director:
- 14 mentoring hours
- 446 internship/work-based experience hours at the district level (up to 200 hours of prior district-level work experience may count)
- 541 work-based experience hours at the regional level (up to 245 hours of prior experience at the district/ISD/ESA/RESA level may count)
Not at this time.
Candidates must be concurrently enrolled in the HLA program or have successfully completed the program since 2020 (version 2.0) and meet the MARSE rules.
Not at this time.
Due to the ongoing educator shortage, specifically as it relates to special education personnel, +SE candidates must be concurrently enrolled in the HLA program or have successfully completed the program since 2020 (version 2.0) and meet the MARSE rules.
Need More Information?
Please visit gomasa.org/horizon for additional information and important details.
Still have questions? Please contact Dr. Brian Davis at bdavis@gomasa.org.