Study Guide
Superintendent
Test Design and Framework
The test design below describes general assessment information. The framework that follows is a detailed outline that explains the knowledge and skills that this test measures.
Test Design
| Format | Computer-based test (CBT) and online-proctored test |
|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 80 multiple-choice questions, 2 written assignments |
| Time* | 3 hours, 15 minutes |
| Passing Score | 220 |
*Does not include 15-minute tutorial
Test Framework
| Content Domain | Range of Competencies | Approximate Percentage of Test Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. | Visionary Leadership, Culture of Learning, and the Instructional Program | 0001–0004 | 38% |
| II. | Organizational Management, Collaboration with Stakeholders, and Educational Contexts | 0005–0009 | 32% |
| III. | Planning for Improved Student Success | 0010 | 15% |
| IV. | School District Data Assignment | 0011 | 15% |
Domain I–Visionary Leadership, Culture of Learning, and the Instructional Program
Competency 0001–Understand how to facilitate the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a district vision of success for all students that is shared and supported by the school community.
For example:
- Analyze the purposes of a district vision and procedures for collaboratively developing and implementing a shared vision based on relevant knowledge and theories and reflecting high levels of student learning and effective instructional practice.
- Apply knowledge of how to engage stakeholder groups, including the school board, in developing and implementing a district vision; incorporate diverse perspectives into the vision; and build a shared sense of commitment to and ownership of the vision.
- Analyze the role of the superintendent in developing, articulating, and implementing a district vision, including allocating necessary time and resources, and in motivating district leaders, other staff, students, parents/guardians, and the community to achieve the vision.
- Apply knowledge of how a district vision drives planning and informs decision making about goals, programs, practices, initiatives, and resource utilization.
- Demonstrate knowledge of skills and strategies for collecting and using relevant data to identify goals aligned with the district vision, assess effectiveness in achieving the vision, and promote organizational learning.
- Demonstrate knowledge of skills and strategies for collaboratively creating and implementing plans and initiatives to achieve defined district goals and promote continuous and sustainable improvement.
- Apply knowledge of how to collaboratively monitor and evaluate the progress and effectiveness of plans and initiatives and modify them as needed to achieve goals.
Competency 0002–Understand how to create and sustain a positive culture of learning and learning environments that promote excellence and equity for all students.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the importance of culture and context-appropriate strategies for nurturing and sustaining a districtwide culture of collaboration and achievement in which all stakeholders share a commitment to high expectations for all students, closing achievement gaps, and pursuing academic and behavioral excellence.
- Demonstrate knowledge of context-appropriate strategies for establishing rigorous academic goals and priorities, ensuring that school and district staff set high academic and behavior expectations for every student, and ensuring that students are consistently engaged in learning.
- Apply knowledge of how to promote personalized, motivating, safe, supportive, and equitable learning environments throughout the district that are responsive to and respectful of student diversity and that support achievement for every student.
- Identify procedures for evaluating aspects of school culture and learning environment and for using results to guide continuous improvement throughout the district.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how to promote and evaluate effective and equitable behavior management strategies; student codes of conduct; and practices and procedures for preventing forms of conflict such as bullying, harassment, and intimidation.
- Apply knowledge of how to establish a strong professional culture that encourages continuous staff learning and collaboration and shared commitment to the district's vision, values, and goals.
Competency 0003–Understand how to promote effective instructional programs that apply research-supported best practices in instruction and assessment to foster academic success for all students.
For example:
- Apply knowledge of how to work collaboratively with district leadership to plan, organize, drive, supervise, monitor, evaluate, and support rigorous, standards-based, coherent, and data-driven instructional programs based on research-supported best practices for curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
- Demonstrate knowledge of factors to consider in developing instructional programs (e.g., academic standards; student performance, characteristics, and needs) and procedures for supervising and allocating resources to sustain district instructional programs.
- Apply knowledge of effective instructional practices, including data-driven differentiation and intervention, and curricular materials to meet student needs, close achievement gaps, and promote success for all students at all levels in the district.
- Analyze implications of student diversity for teaching and learning, and identify research-supported practices for promoting achievement for students with diverse characteristics and needs (e.g., English language learners; students with exceptionalities; students with diverse cultural, language, and socioeconomic backgrounds).
- Demonstrate knowledge of effective assessment, including standardized and classroom-based assessment, and assessment practices.
- Apply knowledge of how to promote and facilitate collaborative efforts at the district and school level to analyze assessment results, formulate plans for improved learning and achievement, and conduct relevant research.
- Apply knowledge of how to use relevant quantitative and qualitative data to identify instructional strengths and needs, define gaps between current outcomes and goals, formulate new action steps, and design school and district programs to improve learning for every student.
- Demonstrate knowledge of educational accountability, the importance and implications of accountability for schools and districts, the role of assessment in accountability, and collaborative procedures for establishing and monitoring school and district accountability systems.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how to use technology and information systems to enhance curriculum, instruction, and student learning and to monitor instructional effectiveness across the district.
- Analyze the impact of structural factors (e.g., staffing patterns, schedules, student grouping practices) on student achievement and ways to adjust these factors to achieve district goals for learning.
Competency 0004–Understand how to ensure the creation of professional development opportunities and comprehensive professional growth plans that are aligned to the district's comprehensive school improvement plan, support school improvement, and promote learning for all students.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of skills and strategies for collaboratively planning, implementing, and evaluating aligned, standards-based professional development opportunities, including the need to allocate adequate time and other resources to support staff learning and collaboration.
- Apply knowledge of how to promote the creation of professional learning communities in which teamwork, reflection, conversation, sharing, openness, and problem solving about student learning and achievement are aligned to school and district goals and priorities.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how to guide staff use of achievement data to evaluate student performance, analyze differences between individuals and groups of students, and inform planning for improved teaching and learning.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the importance of classroom observations and the use of observation results and student data to evaluate the quality of instruction and provide building-level staff with feedback aimed at improving student learning and maximizing the effective use of instructional time.
- Apply knowledge of how to provide professional support and development focused on authentic problems and student outcomes, integrate opportunities for continuous learning and professional growth into the school and district environments, and engage staff in ongoing self-assessment.
- Demonstrate knowledge of various supervisory models and techniques (e.g., clinical supervision, coaching, mentoring, conferencing) and their use in improving performance and outcomes for school and district staff.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how to work collaboratively with staff to create comprehensive professional growth plans that are aligned to school and district improvement plans, address individual needs, and promote professional excellence.
- Identify strategies for encouraging leadership, initiative, innovation, self-reflection, and action research among teachers and other staff.
- Apply knowledge of resources and activities for promoting one's own ongoing professional development and learning and for remaining current on knowledge, skills, and best practices in educational leadership that positively impact staff development and student learning.
Domain II–Organizational Management, Collaboration with Stakeholders, and Educational Contexts
Competency 0005–Understand organizational and operational management, including relevant structures, policies, and procedures, and their use in ensuring safe, efficient, and effective learning environments and supporting the district's vision and goals.
For example:
- Apply knowledge of skills and strategies for managing the district organization in ways that promote collaborative processes and relationships, foster collective commitment to the vision and goals, and ensure equity and continuous improvement.
- Apply knowledge of how to monitor and evaluate school and district management systems and ensure that organizational time is focused on supporting effective instruction and student learning.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how to collect and use relevant data to make decisions about organizational needs and priorities and how to strategically address organizational barriers to achieving district goals.
- Apply knowledge of management skills and practices (e.g., group process, trust building, team building, consensus building, conflict resolution, distributed leadership) and their use in solving problems, making decisions, and achieving success for every student.
- Apply knowledge of change processes and how to initiate, manage, and evaluate organizational change.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how to use technological tools and systems to support effective management of the organization (e.g., managing information, facilitating communication and collaboration).
- Apply knowledge of procedures, practices, and legal requirements for ensuring the safe, efficient, and effective operation of district facilities and equipment.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how to develop and implement plans and procedures for ensuring student and staff safety and building security.
- Demonstrate knowledge of crisis planning and emergency management in schools and districts.
- Apply knowledge of how to allocate and use facility space effectively and efficiently to meet program needs and achieve district goals.
Competency 0006–Understand human, fiscal, and material resource management that is effective, legal, equitable, and aligned and supports attainment of the district's vision and goals.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of effective, legal, and equitable procedures for collaboratively recruiting, hiring, assigning, retaining, evaluating, disciplining, and dismissing staff to support district goals and maximize achievement for all students.
- Apply knowledge of how to work collaboratively with district leaders and staff to develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate effective induction and mentoring plans for new teachers.
- Analyze issues related to equity, diversity, and fairness in human resource management.
- Apply knowledge of staff evaluation procedures and the use of staff evaluation systems that differentiate the performance of staff functioning at different levels.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how to work collaboratively with district leaders and staff to allocate, align, and efficiently utilize human resources and develop the capacity for distributed leadership.
- Demonstrate knowledge of policies, procedures, and contractual obligations related to human resource administration, including relevant state and federal laws and regulations (e.g., ADA, FERPA, FMLA).
- Apply knowledge of how to plan, manage, and monitor district budgets effectively, legally, and equitably according to student needs and how to allocate, align, and efficiently utilize fiscal and material resources.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how to manage fiscal and material resources and obtain new resources (e.g., grants, partnerships) to support district programs and improve student achievement.
- Demonstrate knowledge of procedures for financial record keeping and reporting, including legal requirements, and for ensuring effective internal controls to safeguard district financial operations.
- Demonstrate knowledge of public school financing in Missouri, including related equity issues, sources of funding, and restrictions on the use of funds.
Competency 0007–Understand how to communicate and collaborate with parents/guardians and other district stakeholders, respond to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilize community resources to support and positively affect learning.
For example:
- Analyze the role of high visibility and active involvement throughout the district and the community in accommodating diverse conditions and needs and supporting achievement of the district vision and goals.
- Apply knowledge of community and media relations, public information strategies for communicating different types of information to various audiences (e.g., parents/guardians, community partners), and technological tools and interpersonal communication skills appropriate in various educational contexts.
- Apply knowledge of how to build and sustain collaborative, productive relationships with school board members, school and district staff, advisory councils, parents/guardians, local businesses and other organizations, and community partners.
- Demonstrate 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, including leading tax initiatives, to support student achievement, solve district problems, and achieve district goals.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the benefits of parent/guardian participation in the schools and strategies for increasing the involvement of parents/guardians in their children's education.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how to guide staff to build productive relationships with parents/guardians and engage them in their children's learning.
- Apply knowledge of skills and strategies for consensus building, collaboration, and negotiation in various contexts involving parents/guardians and other district stakeholders.
- Apply knowledge of how to respond to diverse community interests and needs and work effectively with stakeholders who have competing or conflicting perspectives.
Competency 0008–Understand the personal and professional responsibilities of superintendents, including legal and ethical principles and practices.
For example:
- Apply knowledge of student, staff, and parent/guardian rights, protections, and responsibilities (e.g., due process, confidentiality, free speech, sexual harassment).
- Apply knowledge of laws and regulations related to school and district administration in Missouri (e.g., reporting requirements, student supervision, liability, security of digital information).
- Apply knowledge of legal principles and practices for promoting equity in Missouri schools.
- Apply knowledge of legal requirements for educating students with disabilities (e.g., IDEA, Section 504) and students who are English language learners.
- Apply knowledge of personal and professional ethics, including principles and guidelines for acting fairly, ethically, and with integrity in various district leadership contexts.
- Apply knowledge of personal priorities and behaviors expected of superintendents in Missouri (e.g., demonstrating respect for others; ensuring accountability for the success of every student; modeling principles of reflective practice, transparency, and ethical behavior; safeguarding the values of democracy, equity, and diversity; considering potential moral and legal consequences of decision making; ensuring that individual student needs inform all aspects of schooling).
Competency 0009–Understand the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural contexts of education and how to respond to and influence these contexts to achieve the district's vision and goals and promote learning for all students.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of how political, social, economic, legal, and cultural issues at the local, state, and federal level affect Missouri public schools and how to conduct and use related research to positively impact schools and districts.
- Analyze the influence of political, social, economic, legal, and cultural factors on parents/guardians, communities, students, and learning.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how current and emerging issues, trends, initiatives, and forces influence teaching and learning and how to adapt district leadership strategies in response to these forces.
- Apply knowledge of how to respond to and influence the political, social, economic, legal, and cultural contexts of education to achieve district goals.
- Apply knowledge of how to communicate effectively with members of the school board and the community concerning potential trends, issues, and changes that could affect school and district learning environments and opportunities and how to evaluate and modify communications as needed.
- Apply knowledge of how to serve as an effective advocate at the local, state, and federal level for policies, laws, programs, practices, and resources that promote student learning and ensure educational equity for all students.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how to work effectively with decision makers at the local and state level to increase their understanding of issues affecting student learning and how to adapt leadership strategies in response to emerging trends and initiatives.