Field 281: Principal: Subtest II

A low-performing elementary school has a goal of increasing student performance in math and reading by a defined amount. Students take district-mandated interim assessments in these areas from time to time during the year as well as state assessments near the end of each year. The school's new principal decides to have a large, brightly colored chart created that will be used to graphically display changes in student performance in math and reading over time. The chart will be placed in a prominent spot in front of the cafeteria. Which of the following is likely to be the most significant benefit of the principal's decision to use the chart?

• 1. providing a continuous reminder to staff and students about the connection between daily learning activities and test performance

• 1. making critical information about the school readily available to all members of the school community

• 1. communicating to the entire school community the school's strong commitment to improved student achievement

• 1. enhancing staff and student recognition of the important role of academic testing in the life of the school

According to research, which of the following changes in a learning environment is likely to have the greatest positive effect on students' attitudes and motivation regarding learning?

• 1. expanded use of high-quality computer-based instruction

• 1. increased focus on individual versus group activities

• 1. expanded availability of adults to provide assistance in the classroom

• 1. increased number of instructional formats employed by the teacher

An elementary school has developed a system where teachers provide the parents/guardians of students with a monthly "learning bulletin" that contains information about what their children will be studying in the coming month as well as a description of what families can do to support their children's learning at home. The learning bulletins include, for example, tips for promoting students' homework completion and strategies for reinforcing students' current learning during everyday activities such as meal preparation and during games families can play together. Inclusion of the learning bulletins in the school program is likely to be most effective in helping achieve which of the following goals?

• 1. communicating to families that teachers can best fulfill their responsibilities when families are willing to assist and support them

• 1. facilitating teachers' ability to address the full range of required curricular content within the constraints of available class time

• 1. prompting families to view themselves as valued partners who can play an important role in promoting students' school success

• 1. ensuring personalized, motivating, and equitable learning opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds and family situations

A new principal in a low-performing school wants to eliminate some instructional practices commonly used by teachers in the school and replace them with practices that have been shown to be more effective at promoting student learning. After meeting with initial teacher resistance, the principal finds research suggesting that teachers' readiness to learn and change often depends in part on their confidence and self-esteem. In the situation described, the principal can best apply this understanding by using which of the following approaches?

• 1. having the teachers assess their own needs and draw their own conclusions about new teaching practices to improve their performance

• 1. introducing new teaching practices by involving the teachers in low-risk activities in smallgroup settings

• 1. prompting the teachers to locate and read information about targeted new teaching practices before asking them to try the practices themselves

• 1. creating a menu of new teaching practices for the teachers to incorporate independently at their own pace

In reviewing the results of a school culture and climate survey administered to students, the principal finds that ratings were particularly low in a section of the survey addressing students' motivation and sense of being encouraged to achieve high standards of academic performance. The principal can best follow up on this result by taking which of the following actions first?

• 1. analyzing students' grades and test scores to compare the students' perceptions with actual performance trends

• 1. increasing informal observation of interactions among students to try to gain additional insight into the low ratings

• 1. administering a similar survey to teachers to determine whether their ratings show a similar pattern

• 1. soliciting input from school staff regarding likely reasons for the low student ratings and possible solutions

The teachers in a school are assigned to teams that were established to enhance the school's functioning and provide team members with various types of professional support. A key goal driving the school at this time is to "set and achieve high academic and behavior expectations for every student." In observing the teams, the principal can best ensure that they are striving to meet this goal if team members are seen to focus most attention on exploring and addressing which of the following questions?

• 1. How should we respond to students who experience difficulties in learning?

• 1. What skills and content are most important for our students to learn?

• 1. How can we ensure that behavior management approaches are equitably applied?

• 1. In what ways do our students' lives outside of school impact their performance?

Which of the following guidelines applied in developing a new student code of conduct for a school or district would best help ensure the creation of an effective document?

• 1. Describe behavior expectations and consequences for infractions as precisely, comprehensively, and concretely as possible.

• 1. Use the school or district vision as a blueprint for defining appropriate behavior expectations and consequences to include in the code.

• 1. Define behavior expectations and consequences for infractions in ways that can accommodate substantial flexibility and judgment in enforcing the code.

• 1. Emphasize behavior expectations and consequences for infractions that reflect as much as possible students' experiences in their homes and community.

Although an elementary school has a good record of performance, the principal believes that teaching and learning in the school could be improved. The principal decides that one way to promote such improvement is to create a school environment that encourages innovation and responsible risk taking among faculty. Which of the following strategies is likely to contribute most to the development of this type of environment?

• 1. implementing a system for providing faculty with regular updates about current trends and research in elementary education

• 1. giving faculty regular opportunities for collaborative problem solving and sustained support for implementing workable solutions

• 1. allowing faculty considerable autonomy in selecting student learning goals and determining how to achieve them in their classes

• 1. visiting classrooms regularly and offering faculty praise for what they are doing well and suggestions for addressing observed needs

Which of the following observations made by a high school principal is most likely a sign that there may be inequitable treatment of students in the school?

• 1. Elective classes in science and social studies tend to have half as many students as required classes.

• 1. Content-area teachers tend not to modify instruction for English Language Learners and instead deliver the same instruction to all students.

• 1. A large number of African American, American Indian, and Hispanic students participate in fine arts classes.

• 1. Some students with special needs attend general classes throughout the entire school day, while others attend a resource room for part of the day.

In which of the following circumstances would a principal be most justified in granting a teacher's request that a student be removed from the classroom?

• 1. The teacher has determined that the student's classroom performance makes it highly unlikely that the student will be eligible for promotion.

• 1. The student's unwillingness to complete assignments on time is having a negative effect on the morale and motivation of other students.

• 1. The teacher has determined that the student's behavior seriously interferes with the teacher's ability to communicate effectively with other students.

• 1. The student's unwillingness to participate in group activities creates an unfair amount of work for the other members of the groups to which the student is assigned.