FELE

Subtest 2 – Organizational Development

Test Format and Sample Questions

The Organizational Development subtest contains approximately 50 multiple-choice questions. You will have two hours 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
Sentence Completion Select the response option that best completes the sentence.	Question 6
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 9
Direct Question Choose the response option that best answers the question.	Question 12

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 2 – Organizational Development

Competency 1—Knowledge of effective recruitment and induction practices to develop a high-performing, diverse faculty and staff

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A principal in a school with a history of low performance is preparing to interview candidates for an open position in the English department. The principal is considering various prompts that could be used to elicit information from the candidates during their interviews.

Which of the following prompts would likely yield responses that provide the principal with the most useful information about a candidate's effectiveness as an educator?

Choose an answer

1. Discuss your most important strengths as a teacher, and describe what you consider to be your greatest professional development needs and goals at this time.
2. Explain how your courses at the college or graduate level, as well as your teaching experience to date, have prepared you to be a successful English teacher.
3. Describe a significant problem you encountered in attempting to promote learning for one or more students, and explain how you addressed that problem.
4. Identify the components of the English curriculum that you believe are most crucial for students to master, and explain why those components are so important.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 2 – Organizational Development

Competency 1—Knowledge of effective recruitment and induction practices to develop a high-performing, diverse faculty and staff

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A school is planning to initiate a new mentoring program for beginning teachers. Goals of the program include promoting the instructional proficiency of new teachers and increasing new teacher retention. Which of the following practices used by school administrators would best help ensure the success of the new program?

Choose an answer

1. observing and providing feedback on meetings between mentors and mentees on a regular basis
2. providing initial and ongoing training for individuals who are selected to serve as a mentor
3. pairing new teachers with mentors who have similar backgrounds and life experiences
4. giving mentors flexibility in defining their own roles and responsibilities in the mentoring relationship

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 2 – Organizational Development

Competency 2—Knowledge of effective practices for the development and retention of high-performing, diverse faculty and staff

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A principal will be working with a small group of staff members to select professional development activities that all teachers will participate in during the upcoming school year. The principal can best promote effective decision making by guiding the staff members to place the most emphasis on which of the following criteria when evaluating each professional development option under consideration?

Choose an answer

1. Does the activity match defined school goals and priorities?
2. Will the activity accommodate faculty learning styles and preferences?
3. Is the breadth of knowledge covered by the activity sufficient?
4. Are the resources required for the activity available within the school?

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 2 – Organizational Development

Competency 2—Knowledge of effective practices for the development and retention of high-performing, diverse faculty and staff

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A principal will be leading a school in which most teachers work independently with minimal professional interaction with their peers. One of the principal's goals is to transform the school into a professional learning community in which groups of teachers will collaborate on an ongoing basis, analyzing and evaluating student performance and using reflection, discussion, experimentation, and problem solving to promote continuous improvement in student learning. The principal begins by leading many discussions with teachers about the characteristics, functions, and benefits of professional learning communities and by implementing training for teachers on relevant skills, including data analysis.

Which of the following additional actions by the principal is likely to be most important in making the identified goal a reality?

Choose an answer

1. encouraging teachers in each group to observe and provide feedback to each other
2. allowing teachers to select the colleagues with whom they will work
3. prompting each group to define specific roles and responsibilities for each teacher in the group
4. allocating time in the school schedule for teachers to work together

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Subtest 2 – Organizational Development

Competency 2—Knowledge of effective practices for the development and retention of high-performing, diverse faculty and staff

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

An assistant principal has conducted an observation in a teacher's classroom. Although the teacher exhibited a number of strengths during the observation period, the assistant principal also identified some areas needing improvement. Which of the following actions taken by the assistant principal would best help in preparing for a productive post-observation conference with the teacher?

Choose an answer

1. organizing data and notes collected during the observed lesson that can serve to guide discussion with the teacher
2. reviewing teacher-provided samples of lesson materials used and student work generated during the observation period
3. preparing a list of recommended professional development activities based on the teacher's observed performance
4. providing the teacher with a brief summary of observed strengths and needs to review before the conference occurs

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 2 – Organizational Development

Competency 2—Knowledge of effective practices for the development and retention of high-performing, diverse faculty and staff

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A principal who was hired to turn around a failing school intends to conduct a thorough review of student performance on standardized tests to assist in analyzing current teacher effectiveness in the school. The principal can best ensure that this approach will yield accurate results by first taking steps to verify that

Choose an answer

1. students are receiving ongoing opportunities to learn and reinforce skills for taking standardized tests.
2. the curriculum taught in the school is closely aligned with the content addressed on the standardized tests.
3. teachers' classroom assessments incorporate question formats similar to those used on the standardized tests.
4. the standardized tests reflect current knowledge about processes by which individuals gain knowledge and skills.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 2 – Organizational Development

Competency 2—Knowledge of effective practices for the development and retention of high-performing, diverse faculty and staff

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Peer coaching would be most appropriate to use as a professional learning strategy for teachers in which of the following school contexts?

Choose an answer

1. Teachers have expressed interest in exploring recent research on students with certain types of disabilities and its implications for instruction.
2. A school recently hired a group of beginning teachers who are experiencing difficulty adjusting to the various demands of the job.
3. Teachers have received feedback from a new assistant principal and are beginning to implement suggestions in their classes.
4. A school is making plans to begin using a new set of teacher accountability procedures based on guidelines developed by district staff.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 2 – Organizational Development

Competency 3—Knowledge of effective practices that cultivate, support, and develop leaders within the organization

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A principal recently hired a new classroom teacher who appears to possess strong natural leadership skills. The principal would like to find ways to nurture and expand the teacher's leadership abilities. Which of the following approaches would likely be most appropriate and effective for the principal to use first in efforts to achieve this goal?

Choose an answer

1. offering the new teacher opportunities to collaborate and contribute in a variety of school contexts
2. encouraging the new teacher to take on some of the lower level tasks that the principal normally carries out
3. involving the new teacher in reviewing and discussing professional literature on current issues in school leadership
4. inviting the new teacher to accompany the principal to selected school and district leadership meetings

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 2 – Organizational Development

Competency 3—Knowledge of effective practices that cultivate, support, and develop leaders within the organization

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A principal is planning to begin delegating a number of tasks to aspiring leaders. In implementing delegation plans, which of the following should the principal consider the most important responsibility?

Choose an answer

1. ensuring that the delegation of tasks to some staff members does not result in unequal staff workloads
2. engaging in ongoing monitoring of the quality and timely completion of delegated tasks
3. offering public acknowledgment and appreciation to those staff members who are performing delegated tasks
4. providing district leaders with accurate documentation regarding initial and future task delegation decisions

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 2 – Organizational Development

Competency 3—Knowledge of effective practices that cultivate, support, and develop leaders within the organization

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

An elementary school principal believes that one way to enhance the school's educational program is to develop a professional culture in which teacher leadership is expected and encouraged. Which of the following strategies would best help promote the development of such a culture?

Choose an answer

1. increasing teachers' independence in delivering and adapting curricula to meet their students' needs
2. providing teachers with ongoing access to information about legislation and other factors affecting the school
3. encouraging teachers to take on a range of selected administrative tasks and responsibilities
4. supporting teachers' use of collaborative practice in addressing grade-level or schoolwide issues

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Subtest 2 – Organizational Development

Competency 4—Knowledge of personal and professional behavior consistent with quality practices in education and community leadership

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 2 – Organizational Development

Competency 4—Knowledge of personal and professional behavior consistent with quality practices in education and community leadership

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following actions by a principal most clearly illustrates the principal's resiliency on the job?

Choose an answer

1. presenting a research-supported argument for retaining a student program that district leaders are talking about eliminating to reduce school spending
2. leading faculty work groups to develop new strategies to turn around poor student performance after the failure of a previous effort
3. delegating a number of daily tasks to others in the school in order to spend additional time addressing long-term instructional leadership goals
4. surveying individuals involved in a recently initiated teacher mentoring program to improve knowledge of perceived program weaknesses and needs

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 2 – Organizational Development

Competency 4—Knowledge of personal and professional behavior consistent with quality practices in education and community leadership

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following strategies for using technology would likely be most effective in helping enhance a principal's effectiveness as an instructional leader?

Choose an answer

1. making time on a regular basis to browse websites containing articles on teaching and learning by reputable authors
2. using e-mail on a regular basis to share information with teachers and other school staff about best practices and innovative approaches in education
3. regularly participating in online collaboration for school administrators to share best practices and gather input from each other
4. regularly seeking out and viewing video lectures by well-known professionals on educational topics related to current issues in the principal's school

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 2 – Organizational Development

Competency 4—Knowledge of personal and professional behavior consistent with quality practices in education and community leadership

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 her 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 her ability to implement future school changes smoothly and efficiently.

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 2 – Organizational Development

Competency 4—Knowledge of personal and professional behavior consistent with quality practices in education and community leadership

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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