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Test Information Guide

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Test and Test Information Guide Development

Authorization

Developed, produced, and printed under the authority of the Florida Department of Education.

Authorization for reproduction of this document is hereby granted to persons acting in an official capacity within the Florida K-20 education system, as enumerated in Section 1000.04, Florida Statutes.

Permission is NOT granted for distribution or reproduction outside the State system of public education or for commercial distribution of the copyrighted materials without written authorization from the Department of Education. Questions regarding use of these copyrighted materials are to be addressed to:

FTCE/FELE Administrator
Florida Department of Education
325 West Gaines Street, Suite 414
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400

Copyright 2018
State of Florida
Department of State

Teacher Certification Testing

In 1980, the State legislature passed the Management Training Act, creating the Florida Council on Educational Management (FCEM). Charged by this Act to make recommendations on the management of Florida's public schools, the FCEM commissioned studies to determine the characteristics that distinguish outstanding educational managers. Based on the results of these studies, the FCEM recommended three levels of certification for educational leaders. The FCEM also mandated a statewide examination, the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE), to ensure that certification applicants have sufficient knowledge to succeed at the entry level in their profession. For more information about educator certification, visit the Florida Department of Education website opens in a new window.

A task force appointed by the FCEM to develop and recommend the scope of the FELE defined eight areas to be tested. In 2005, these areas were aligned with the Florida Principal Leadership Standards (Rule 6B-5.0012, F.A.C.) to identify 10 standards. Substantial changes were made in the Florida Principal Leadership Standards (FPLS) and were transferred to Rule 6A-5.080, F.A.C. in 2011. The 2011 FPLS encompass four domains and 10 standards as follows:

  1. Student Achievement
    1. Student Learning Results
    2. Student Learning as a Priority
  2. Instructional Leadership
    1. Instructional Plan Implementation
    2. Faculty Development
    3. Learning Environment
  3. Organizational Leadership
    1. Decision Making
    2. Leadership Development
    3. School Management
    4. Communication
  4. Professional and Ethical Behavior
    1. Professional and Ethical Behaviors

In 2012, the FPLS Standards of 2011 were established as the basis for the evaluation of school leadership and development of FELE 3.0. Committees of statewide subject matter experts further explicated the test content within each standard by developing competencies and skills, test question specifications, and a pool of test questions.

More information about the test development and validation process is available on the How the FTCE and FELE Were Developed webpage.

Role of the Test Information Guide

The purpose of this test information guide is to assist FELE candidates to prepare effectively for the examination. The guide was designed to familiarize prospective test takers with various aspects of the examination, including the content that is covered and the way it is represented. The guide should enable candidates to direct their study and to focus on relevant material for review. An annotated bibliography of related subject matter materials is available at the end of the test information guide to provide further guidance in identifying additional areas in need of study.

This test information guide is intended primarily for use by candidates for a Florida Educational Leadership Certificate, a certificate for people wishing to enter the field of school administration. Candidates may have studied and worked in Florida or may be from out of state.

College or university faculty may also use the guide to prepare students for certification, and in-service trainers may find the guide useful for helping previously certified teachers prepare for recertification.

This test information guide is not intended as an all-inclusive source of subject area knowledge, nor is it a substitute for college course work in the subject area. The sample questions are representative of the content of the actual test; however, they are not actual test questions from an actual test form. Instead, the guide is intended to help candidates prepare for the subject area test by presenting an overview of the content and format of the examination.

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