NES Principal Subtest I (810) Practice Tests

Competencies 0001–0002 make up about 50% of the test. They ask you to understand how to develop and implement a shared school vision and associated goals and plans to promote continuous and sustainable improvement in student learning and achievement. (ISLLC Standard 1); understand the political, social, economic, and heritage-based contexts of education and how to use effective communication and collaboration skills to build positive, productive relationships with stakeholders inside and outside the school. (ISLLC Standards 4, 6).

• Competency 0001: Understand how to develop and implement a shared school vision and associated goals and plans to promote continuous and sustainable improvement in student learning and achievement. (ISLLC Standard 1). Skills tested: analyzing the purposes of a school vision and mission and procedures for collaboratively developing and implementing a shared vision and mission reflecting high levels of student learning and effective instructional practice; applying knowledge of how to engage diverse stakeholder groups in developing and implementing a school vision, incorporate diverse perspectives into the vision, and build a shared sense of commitment to and ownership of the vision; analyzing the role of the principal in developing, articulating, and implementing a school vision; demonstrating knowledge of potential barriers to achieving a vision and how to strategically address barriers; applying knowledge of how a school vision drives planning and informs decision making about goals, programs, practices, and resource utilization; demonstrating knowledge of skills and strategies for collecting and using relevant data to identify goals aligned with the vision, assess organizational effectiveness, and promote organizational learning; demonstrating knowledge of skills and strategies for creating and implementing plans to achieve defined goals and promote continuous and sustainable improvement; applying knowledge of how to monitor and evaluate a plan's progress and effectiveness and revise plans as needed to achieve goals.
• Competency 0002: Understand the political, social, economic, and heritage-based contexts of education and how to use effective communication and collaboration skills to build positive, productive relationships with stakeholders inside and outside the school. (ISLLC Standards 4, 6). Skills tested: demonstrating knowledge of political, social, economic, and cultural contexts of education at the local, state, and federal levels that affect public schools and how to respond to and influence these contexts; analyzing the influences of political, social, economic, and cultural factors on families, communities, students, and learning; demonstrating knowledge of how current and emerging issues, trends, initiatives, and forces influence teaching and learning, and how to adapt leadership strategies in response to these forces; applying knowledge of how to serve as an effective advocate at the local, district, state, and national levels for policies, laws, programs, and practices that promote student learning and educational equity; demonstrating knowledge of public school governance and how to work effectively with decision makers at the local, district, and state levels to increase their understanding of issues affecting the school and to achieve educational goals; demonstrating knowledge of community and media relations, public information strategies for communicating different types of information to various audiences (e.g., families, community partners), and interpersonal communication skills appropriate in various educational contexts; applying knowledge of how to build collaborative relationships with school staff, advisory councils, district governing bodies, families, businesses/enterprises, and community partners; demonstrating knowledge of how to promote understanding, appreciation, and use of the community's diverse cultural, social, and intellectual resources and how to mobilize community resources in support of school programs and goals; demonstrating knowledge of the benefits of parent/guardian participation in the school and strategies for increasing the involvement of parents/guardians in their children's education; applying knowledge of skills and strategies for consensus building, collaboration, and negotiation in various educational contexts; applying knowledge of how to respond to diverse community interests and needs and work effectively with stakeholders who have competing or conflicting perspectives.

Competencies 0003–0004 make up about 50% of the test. They ask you to understand fiscal and operational management and their use in promoting achievement of the school's educational goals. (ISLLC Standard 3); understand laws, regulations, and judicial decisions affecting education and ethical guidelines and behavior expectations for principals. (ISLLC Standard 5).

• Competency 0003: Understand fiscal and operational management and their use in promoting achievement of the school's educational goals. (ISLLC Standard 3). Skills tested: applying knowledge of how to plan, manage, and monitor school budgets effectively, legally, and equitably, and how to allocate, align, and efficiently utilize fiscal resources; demonstrating knowledge of how to manage resources and obtain new resources (e.g., grants, partnerships) to support school programs and improve student achievement; demonstrating knowledge of procedures for financial record keeping and reporting, including legal requirements, and for ensuring effective internal controls to safeguard school financial operations; demonstrating knowledge of public school financing, including related equity issues, sources of funding, and restrictions on the use of funds; applying knowledge of procedures, practices, and legal requirements for ensuring the safe, efficient, and effective operation of school facilities and equipment; demonstrating knowledge of how to develop and implement plans and procedures for ensuring student and staff safety and building security; demonstrating knowledge of crisis planning and emergency management in the school setting; applying knowledge of how to allocate and use school facility space effectively and efficiently to meet program needs.
• Competency 0004: Understand laws, regulations, and judicial decisions affecting education and ethical guidelines and behavior expectations for principals. (ISLLC Standard 5). Skills tested: applying knowledge of student, staff, and parent/guardian rights, protections, and responsibilities (e.g., due process, confidentiality, free speech, sexual harassment); applying knowledge of laws and regulations related to school administration (e.g., reporting requirements, student supervision, liability); applying knowledge of legal principles and practices for promoting equity in public schools; applying knowledge of legal requirements for educating students with disabilities and students who are English Language Learners; demonstrating knowledge of personal and professional ethics, including principles and guidelines for acting fairly, ethically, and with integrity; demonstrating knowledge of expected principal behaviors (e.g., ensuring accountability for the success of every student; modeling principles of self- awareness, reflective practice, transparency, and ethical behavior; safeguarding the values of democracy, equity, and diversity; considering the potential moral and legal consequences of decision making) Principal Subtest II (812).