What Is PAL

Overview

Now, more than ever, school leaders must be effective as instructional leaders who can develop their teachers and schools to improve student learning. Massachusetts now expects educators to take responsibility for students' continuous growth and development, which sets a high bar for readiness in the profession and places student learning at the center of educator development, selection, support, and evaluation. Such expectations have consequences for how leaders are prepared, selected, and supported. Aligning and strengthening assessments for initial leadership licensure to both new state leadership standards and principal evaluation reforms will improve school leader development and effectiveness.

Submission Deadlines and Reporting Dates

Review the PAL submission deadlines and score report dates.

Leadership Assessment

The Massachusetts Performance Assessment for Leaders (PAL) is designed as a performance assessment in which candidates can demonstrate and apply their leadership knowledge and skills by setting direction, creating a professional learning culture among staff, supporting individual teacher development, and engaging families and community in improving student learning. The purposes of the PAL system are to:

PAL consists of four performance assessment tasks that reflect the authentic work of school leaders. The tasks have been developed in collaboration with Massachusetts educational leaders, pathway faculty and state officials and are intended to be completed as part of a preparation pathway.

Licensure Requirements

The PAL tasks are aligned to the revised Professional Standards for Administrative Leadership, which the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved in December 2011. Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval regulations (603 CMR 7.00) were amended and approved by the Board on June 26, 2012. PAL is also aligned with the performance assessment requirements of the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC), as spelled out in their National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) Standards .