Distinction between the PhD and the EdD
As mentioned earlier, one of the problems identified by the researchers of the CID is a lack of clear distinction between the PhD and the EdD in practice. Actually, the field of education has lived with the ambiguity of purposes and distinctions between the PhD and the EdD for about a century. Both the PhD and the EdD were accommodated almost from the beginning of doctorates in education around 1900, but in today’s reality the distinctions between these two doctoral degrees are still unclear (Shulman et al., 2006). The ambiguity has been reflected in all aspects of the two doctoral programs, including admissions requirements, coursework, dissertations, and even careers or outcomes (Derring, 1998; Deering & Whitworth, 1982; Hallinger, 2011; Lunt, 2005).
Despite a lack of distinction between the PhD and the EdD in practice, there is a growing consensus in theory on the missions and purposes of the two degrees. As described by Shulman et al, (2006):
The EdD, intended as preparation for managerial and administrative leadership in education, focuses on preparing practitioners – from principals to curriculum specialists, to teacher-educators, to evaluators – who can use existing knowledge to solve educational problems. A PhD in education, on the other hand, is assumed to be a traditional academic degree that prepares researchers, university faculty, and scholars in education, often from the perspective of a particular discipline. (p. 26)
In 2005, the California State University system was authorized by the state legislature to establish independent doctoral programs and award the EdD degree to meet the pressing need for
 
well-prepared practitioners to lead public schools and community colleges (CSU, 2006). The legislature stipulates that the EdD programs at the California State University system must be distinguished from traditional doctoral programs at research universities; partnered with California public schools and community colleges in program design, recruitment, teaching and program evaluation; and focused on the needs of professional practice and the knowledge and skills needed for educational administrators to do their jobs effectively. As a result, 13 new EdD programs at the California State University system have been established to date on the basis of the legislative mandate.
Effective Program Features and Their Impact
If the EdD is intended to prepare high level educational leaders and practitioners for schools, its curriculum and coursework should be practically relevant and focus on effective leadership practices that lead to school improvement and student achievement. There are certain features of effective leadership programs that have been widely accepted and recommended in the literature, including a coherent curriculum that is aligned with professional standards (such as ISSLC standards); research-based program content that incorporates knowledge and skills of school leadership and management, instructional leadership, and change management; and problem-based learning that addresses practical problems and stimulates reflection (Darling-Hammond, LaPointe, Meyerson, & Orr, 2007; Davis, Darling-Hammond, LaPointe, & Meyerson, 2005; Orr, 2011).
Although there are limited empirical studies on the effects of school leadership preparation on school improvement and student learning (Murphy & Vriesenga, 2006), research on the relationship between preparation programs and graduate leadership outcomes in recent years has been very promising. For example, a study of 17 leadership preparation programs conducted by Orr (2011) found that the recommended program features mentioned above were significantly correlated with graduates’ satisfaction with the program, their career aspirations to become a principal, and their learning in key areas of effective leadership (vision and ethics, instructional leadership, organizational learning, management and operations, and parent and community involvement).