This project analyzes a long-standing school district-based leadership development program in British Columbia, Canada, and its transition to a partnership with the local university in which the students receive credit toward a graduate degree. The intent of this study was to explore the change process in leadership development from a school district-based program to a joint venture between the school district and the local university. Historical data was gathered to situate the pre-existing program. Interviews with key participants in the process of changing to program were held. Consideration of the research literature about current leadership program partnerships and a mapping to the interviews reveals this program to be in line with effective leadership development partnerships according to research findings, and highly innovative in the province of British Columbia. Future considerations are addressed.