This proposal calls for the establishment of an independent, freestanding, voluntary system of advanced certification for principals and superintendents that would recognize highly accomplished practices in these two educational fields. The proposal spells out why such an initiative is needed and how an American Board for Leadership in Education (ABLE) would be founded and governed. It describes how the establishment of standards for advanced practice could have a profound effect on the profession and how the idea draws on the lessons already learned, including the recent experience of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, an idea that was initially dismissed by many as laudable yet politically impractical but was eventually accepted. The case for a system of advanced certification is presented with, first, a look at school and district leadership and the effectiveness of current incentives and systems designed to encourage excellence and ensure quality. The proposal then goes on to discuss standards; professional education; mobility and the administrator labor market; the special case of urban education; licensure versus certification; designing a system of advanced certification for administrators; governance; and the establishment and staffing of an ABLE. (WFA)