FELE
For Testing Beginning 1/1/2026

Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Test Format and Sample Questions

The Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership subtest contains approximately 50 multiple-choice questions. You will have one hour and 30 minutes to complete the subtest.

Each of the questions will contain four response options. You will choose the best response out of the available options, and indicate A, B, C, or D.

The table below presents types of questions on the exam and directs you to examples of these formats among the sample items that follow.

Table of Question Formats

Type of Question	Sample Question
Direct Question Choose the response option that best answers the question.	Question 1
Sentence Completion Select the response option that best completes the sentence.	Question 2
Scenario Examine a situation, problem, or case study. Then answer a question, make a diagnosis, or recommend a course of action by selecting the best response option.	Question 13

Sample Questions

The following questions represent both the form and content of questions on the examination. These questions will acquaint you with the general format of the examination; however, these sample questions do not cover all of the competencies and skills that are tested and will only approximate the degree of examination difficulty.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 1—Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and best practices that promote a safe and effective learning environment

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following classroom situations observed by a principal most likely reflects teacher behavior the principal should address as a violation of the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida?

Choose an answer

1. A teacher blocks students' access to points of view that conflict with a significant segment of the school community's beliefs.
2. A teacher places students with identified academic characteristics, such as struggling readers, in a separate group during some class periods.
3. A teacher gives unequal amounts of attention and support to students working on individual projects during a class period.
4. A teacher offers particular privileges, such as free time on the computer, only to those students who complete their assigned work early.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 1—Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and best practices that promote a safe and effective learning environment

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A school's IEP committee is preparing an IEP for a student with an intellectual disability. The committee plans to require that the student receive two periods of instruction daily in a resource room. In evaluating the appropriateness of this accommodation under federal and state guidelines, the committee should take steps to determine that

Choose an answer

1. the student cannot be provided with a satisfactory education in the regular classroom environment even with the use of supplementary aids and services.
2. peers with disabilities of a similar type or intensity are also being accommodated in the resource room for a similar amount of time each day.
3. the student is able to receive a greater amount of individualized assistance in the resource room than the student would be able to receive in the regular classroom.
4. resource room personnel are able to provide the student with standards-based instruction that is similar to that provided in mainstream courses.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 1—Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and best practices that promote a safe and effective learning environment

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The principal of a middle school has been asked to confirm that the school is meeting requirements outlined in the federal Children's Internet Protection Act. The principal can best respond to this request by demonstrating that the school has

Choose an answer

1. a system in place for reporting to the appropriate authorities any suspected contact between students and potential Internet predators.
2. implemented a program for educating students about safe and appropriate online behaviors.
3. installed an effective firewall or similar system designed to prevent unauthorized individuals from gaining access to confidential student files.
4. procedures in place for tracking the websites visited by students using school computers.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 1—Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and best practices that promote a safe and effective learning environment

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

According to the Florida State Board of Education Consent Decree, students with limited English proficiency have a right to be provided with

Choose an answer

1. statewide assessments in the language in which they are comfortable.
2. multiple educational program options from which to choose.
3. instruction presented in a form that is comprehensible to them.
4. adaptive technology that translates text into their home language.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 2—Knowledge of effective utilization of resources and fiscal management practices that maximize a safe and effective learning environment

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The sponsor of a high school athletics club and their students plan to have a car wash on a Saturday in the school's parking lot to raise money to defray the cost of attending a summer athletics competition. Which of the following represents an acceptable procedure for handling funds collected during the car wash?

Choose an answer

1. The club sponsor deposits the monies collected into their personal bank account so that they can write one check back to the school for deposit.
2. The club sponsor provides each patron with a handwritten receipt on school letterhead as documentation of their donation and then deposits the monies collected.
3. The club sponsor places all of the monies collected into a manila envelope and deposits the money following school protocol.
4. The club sponsor takes a relatively small portion of the monies collected to purchase lunch for students helping with the car wash and prepares a deposit for the remaining amount.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 2—Knowledge of effective utilization of resources and fiscal management practices that maximize a safe and effective learning environment

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following components is used as part of the calculation in the Florida Education Finance Program?

Choose an answer

1. Teachers Lead Program
2. base student allocation
3. Discretionary Lottery Funds
4. class size reduction

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 2—Knowledge of effective utilization of resources and fiscal management practices that maximize a safe and effective learning environment

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A new high school principal seeks to ensure that the school provides all students with equitable learning opportunities. The principal reviews the school's academic program, including the program of studies, graduation requirements, and teacher assignments. Which of the following aspects of the school's existing academic program should be of greatest concern to the principal?

Choose an answer

1. Prerequisites for advanced classes are kept at a minimum.
2. The most experienced teachers are assigned only advanced classes.
3. The number of elective courses varies from department to department.
4. Students must earn a minimum number of credits to receive a diploma.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 3—Knowledge of effective organizational theory, research, and management practices related to school operations that maximize a safe and effective learning environment

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A principal will be working with a team of stakeholders that includes teachers, administrators, specialists, and parents or guardians to develop a plan to improve the school's integration of technology and instruction. The principal can best help promote a successful effort by guiding the team to take which of the following actions first?

Choose an answer

1. defining the desired outcomes of the plan in clear and concrete terms
2. determining an equitable and effective distribution of roles among team members
3. brainstorming ideas about possible steps and procedures to include in the plan
4. analyzing the types and quantities of resources now available in the school

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 3—Knowledge of effective organizational theory, research, and management practices related to school operations that maximize a safe and effective learning environment

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A principal is leading a middle school with many discipline problems involving student-on-student aggression, students who cut classes, students who misuse school property, and other issues. Which of the following actions considered by the principal would likely be most effective to use as an initial step for reducing such discipline problems and promoting a safe, positive learning environment for all students?

Choose an answer

1. reviewing penalties for common student rule violations and increasing their severity as appropriate
2. scheduling staff in ways that provide continuous supervision of students throughout the school
3. assuring equity for individual students and groups of students regarding behavior rules and the imposition of punishments
4. creating a student court whose members are selected by their peers to interpret and implement the student code of conduct

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 3—Knowledge of effective organizational theory, research, and management practices related to school operations that maximize a safe and effective learning environment

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A principal who is reviewing the school's current school safety and security practices should make it the highest priority to address which of the following issues?

Choose an answer

1. Metal detectors were installed in the school a few years ago only in low-traffic areas.
2. The school does not have a dedicated phone line linked directly to local emergency response agencies.
3. Visitors are able to use any of a number of unattended entrances to get into the school.
4. The school security team includes no individuals who are emergency management professionals.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 3—Knowledge of effective organizational theory, research, and management practices related to school operations that maximize a safe and effective learning environment

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following is likely to be the most important logistical challenge for school administrators who are preparing to implement a peer coaching plan aimed at assisting experienced teachers in the school who are struggling to meet new district expectations for teacher performance?

Choose an answer

1. pairing each teacher who requires assistance with a colleague with a similar educational and experiential background
2. ensuring that pairs of teachers who will need to spend significant time working together are assigned to classrooms that are in close proximity
3. tracking the rate of progress and degree of success for plan participants who exhibit a wide range of strengths and needs
4. managing schedules in ways that make time available for participants to collaborate without adding to the length of their workday

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 3—Knowledge of effective organizational theory, research, and management practices related to school operations that maximize a safe and effective learning environment

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

At the start of the school year, a school safety team reviews its communication procedures as part of its audit of the school's emergency plans. Which of the following actions should the team take to ensure that communication during an emergency would be effective?

Choose an answer

1. discussing what details can be shared with stakeholders during an emergency
2. assigning a member of the team to provide updates to stakeholders during an emergency
3. writing scripts for various emergency situations that could be used in automated phone calls to stakeholders
4. asking stakeholders to provide more than one current phone number or e-mail address for contacting them in an emergency

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 4—Knowledge of effective data-driven decision-making processes based on research, best practices, and leadership theory to support the vision, mission, and improvement priorities of schools

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A second-year principal has just overseen the introduction of a new district-mandated teacher evaluation system in the school. Although all teachers now seem to accept the new system, the change caused a great deal of tension and conflict in the school over a period of several months. The principal would like to improve their ability to implement future school changes smoothly and efficiently.

Which of the following strategies would most directly support the principal's goal?

Choose an answer

1. using self-reflection to identify personal strengths and needs in the recent change process
2. exploring a variety of authoritative works on key dimensions of school change processes
3. surveying school staff to solicit their feedback regarding the recent school change process
4. defining a clear personal philosophy of leadership in relation to school change processes

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 4—Knowledge of effective data-driven decision-making processes based on research, best practices, and leadership theory to support the vision, mission, and improvement priorities of schools

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A superintendent has appointed a principal to lead a school whose performance is among the lowest in the district. The superintendent informs the principal that the first goal upon taking over leadership of the school must be to improve student achievement as measured by standardized test scores.

In initiating efforts to achieve this goal, the principal can best facilitate a smooth transition by

Choose an answer

1. showing a willingness to defer to the experience and judgment of respected school stakeholders during the first weeks or months of the year.
2. generating a draft improvement plan that is comprehensive and research based for review and comment by interested school stakeholder groups.
3. sharing stories with school stakeholders about prior successes in turning around low-performing schools.
4. meeting with school stakeholder groups to establish a collaborative effort toward school improvement.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 4—Knowledge of effective data-driven decision-making processes based on research, best practices, and leadership theory to support the vision, mission, and improvement priorities of schools

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Following the third round of school budget cuts in four years, an elementary school principal hears from many teachers about problems they are facing as a result of the cuts. In this situation, the principal should place the highest priority on taking action to address which of the following teacher comments?

Choose an answer

1. "With the need to teach combination grade level classes, I'm often unable to provide adequate support to a number of students who need special academic assistance."
2. "Because we can't purchase the new textbooks we were promised, my students must continue using texts that are in poor condition and must sometimes share them."
3. "As a result of reduced funding for computer maintenance, two of the six computers in my classroom are out of service and unavailable for student use."
4. "Due to my increased teaching responsibilities, I'm required to spend significantly more time every day reviewing and grading the work my students submit."

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 4—Knowledge of effective data-driven decision-making processes based on research, best practices, and leadership theory to support the vision, mission, and improvement priorities of schools

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Last year, after much discussion and debate, the principal of an elementary school with low performance in mathematics led staff in making a decision to begin a new mathematics program. The principal arranged initial and ongoing support for faculty in implementing the new program.

Which of the following actions by the principal would best serve to evaluate the effectiveness of the new program?

Choose an answer

1. conducting observations in each teacher's classroom during periods when the teacher's class is using the program
2. comparing the performance exhibited by students on standardized mathematics assessments before and after adoption of the program
3. scheduling regular debriefs with those individuals who have been providing teachers with program-related support
4. having teachers report on changes in the gap between mathematics standards and student performance since they began using the program

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 4—Knowledge of effective data-driven decision-making processes based on research, best practices, and leadership theory to support the vision, mission, and improvement priorities of schools

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Last year a school began implementing a new district policy regarding instruction. Teachers have had extensive opportunities for training in use of the new instructional approaches, and at this point all but a handful of resistant teachers appear to be doing their best to implement these approaches. When the principal meets with one of the resistant teachers to discuss the issue, the teacher insists that he has been doing his job well for more than 20 years and is certain that the instructional changes currently supported by the school would be disruptive for his students and ineffective in improving their learning.

Which of the following would be the principal's most appropriate initial response to the teacher's comments?

Choose an answer

1. encouraging the teacher to propose alternate strategies for instructional change to promote his students' achievement of the new vision and goals and promising to review the strategies with an open mind
2. agreeing to extend the teacher's timeline for implementing instructional change in order to give him additional time to adjust and to receive further training as needed
3. arranging for the teacher to meet with colleagues who have been particularly successful in incorporating the mandated instructional changes to provide him with role models and potential sources of assistance
4. reinforcing the idea that instructional change is required of all faculty and soliciting the teacher's ideas about the kinds of support that would help him ease the transition

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 4—Knowledge of effective data-driven decision-making processes based on research, best practices, and leadership theory to support the vision, mission, and improvement priorities of schools

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A principal is planning to engage a group representing all school stakeholders in creating goals aligned with the school's new mission and vision. Which of the following actions would be an appropriate first step for the principal to take with the group?

Choose an answer

1. emphasizing that the school's goals should reflect district priorities
2. reviewing the progress made toward goals in the past at the school
3. asking each group member to express their own goals for the school
4. presenting strategies about how to effectively set goals for an organization

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Subtest 1 – Foundational Policies & Practices of School Leadership

Competency 4—Knowledge of effective data-driven decision-making processes based on research, best practices, and leadership theory to support the vision, mission, and improvement priorities of schools

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A school leadership team should give primary consideration to which of the following strategies as it creates an action plan to carry out the school's mission, vision, and related goals?

Choose an answer

1. collecting feedback from stakeholders in a timely and efficient manner
2. creating a new vision that is easily understandable by people unfamiliar with the school
3. reviewing changes that may be required if specific steps must be revised along the way
4. ensuring that the school's goals align with the State Board of Education policies and priorities

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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