This overview includes information to help you prepare for the NYSTCE School Building Leader assessment. You will find details about the two-part exam, selected-response questions, performance tasks, content areas, registration, fees, scoring, retakes, and study resources.
Assessment
Two separately scored parts
Testing Time
4 hours per part
Passing Score
520 on each part
Combined Fee
$395 for both parts
Exam Background and Purpose
The New York State Teacher Certification Examinations School Building Leader assessment is intended for candidates seeking certification for school-level leadership positions in New York.
The assessment measures whether a prospective school building leader can apply leadership knowledge and professional judgment to realistic situations involving instruction, school culture, faculty development, family engagement, operations, data, and legal requirements.
The current assessment is officially identified as the Revised May 2019 School Building Leader assessment, with test codes 109 and 110.
The older School Building Leader assessment numbered 107/108 has been retired. Candidates should prepare for the current 109/110 assessment unless New York State has specifically directed them to use a safety-net option.
Certification Testing Requirements
Candidates pursuing the New York State Initial School Building Leader certificate are generally required to pass:
- School Building Leader Part One, test code 109
- School Building Leader Part Two, test code 110
- The Educating All Students test when required for the certification pathway
Passing the School Building Leader assessment does not independently issue a certificate. Candidates must also satisfy the education, preparation-program, experience, application, fingerprinting, workshop, and other requirements associated with their certification pathway.
Current Exam Format
The School Building Leader assessment consists of two computer-based tests. Candidates must meet the passing standard for each part separately.
Part One — 109
- 41 selected-response questions
- 1 extended performance task
- 2 shorter performance tasks
- 4 hours of testing time
- 4-hour, 15-minute total appointment
Part Two — 110
- 26 selected-response questions
- 2 extended performance tasks
- 1 shorter performance task
- 4 hours of testing time
- Includes a 15-minute instructional video
Taking Both Parts on the Same Day
Candidates may register for one part or both parts. When both are scheduled together, the complete appointment lasts approximately eight hours and 45 minutes.
- 15-minute tutorial and nondisclosure agreement before Part One
- 4 hours of Part One testing time
- 45-minute lunch break
- 15-minute tutorial and nondisclosure agreement before Part Two
- 4 hours of Part Two testing time
Part Two requires a headset because one performance task includes a video clip of classroom instruction.
Part One Content Areas
Part One emphasizes instructional leadership, student success, school culture, equity, and the learning environment.
Instructional Leadership for Student Success
25 selected-response questions | 1 extended performance task
Shared mission and vision, curriculum, instruction, assessment, data analysis, student achievement, culturally responsive practice, continuous improvement, professional collaboration, and leadership of the instructional program.
School Culture and Learning Environment
16 selected-response questions | 2 shorter performance tasks
School culture, high expectations, student well-being, equity, social justice, ethical leadership, inclusivity, community building, safety, student support, accountability, trust, and a positive learning environment.
Part One Score Weighting
40%
Selected-response questions
60%
Performance tasks
Part Two Content Areas
Part Two emphasizes faculty effectiveness, professional development, family and community engagement, school operations, data systems, and legal guidelines.
Developing Human Capital
2 extended performance tasks | 55% of the Part Two score
Recruiting and retaining effective staff, teacher observation, evaluation, feedback, professional learning, faculty development, instructional improvement, staff leadership, and professional learning communities.
Family and Community Engagement
10 selected-response questions | 1 shorter performance task
Communication with families, community partnerships, accessibility, advocacy, family participation, community resources, cultural responsiveness, conflict resolution, and engagement in student learning.
Operational Systems, Data Systems, and Legal Guidelines
16 selected-response questions | 15% of the Part Two score
School operations, budgeting, resource allocation, technology, data management, legal requirements, student and staff safety, scheduling, facilities, confidentiality, due process, and regulatory compliance.
Part Two Score Weighting
25%
Selected-response questions
75%
Performance tasks
Written performance tasks account for most of the score on both parts. Preparation should include timed writing practice, not only selected-response questions.
Performance Tasks
Performance tasks present school-based scenarios, exhibits, data, documents, or instructional evidence. Candidates must analyze the information and respond to specific prompts.
Part One Tasks
- One extended task designed for up to approximately 60 minutes
- Two shorter tasks designed for up to approximately 30 minutes each
- Analysis of student-performance and formative-assessment data
- Interpretation of student, teacher, or stakeholder survey results
- Recommendations supported by evidence from the provided materials
Part Two Tasks
- One video observation and analysis task designed for up to approximately 70 minutes
- One extended assignment containing four related tasks, designed for up to approximately 70 minutes
- One shorter task designed for up to approximately 40 minutes
- Analysis of teacher practice, professional learning, faculty effectiveness, or student achievement
- Development of evidence-based leadership actions and recommendations
Writing Strategy
- Address every part of the prompt directly.
- Use specific evidence from the scenario and exhibits.
- Explain why the evidence supports the proposed action.
- Connect recommendations to student achievement and well-being.
- Consider equity, ethics, legal requirements, and stakeholder needs.
- Organize the response into clear, focused paragraphs.
- Reserve time to reread and revise the response.
Registration, Fees, and Testing Locations
Registration is completed through an NYSTCE testing account. Candidates may register for Part One, Part Two, or both parts together.
Part One
$198
Part Two
$197
Both Parts
$395
The assessment is offered by appointment during published testing windows. Test centers are available throughout New York State and nationwide.
Appointment availability varies by testing window and location. Candidates who need a particular date should register and schedule early.
What Should I Expect on Test Day?
Test-Day Checklist
- Confirm the test part, appointment date, time, and location.
- Arrive approximately 15 to 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment.
- Bring current, government-issued identification printed in English.
- Make sure the identification includes a photograph and signature.
- Make sure the identification name matches the registration record.
- Store phones, watches, notes, books, bags, and other personal items outside the testing room.
- Complete the tutorial and accept the nondisclosure agreement.
- Use the supplied headset during the Part Two video task.
- Follow all instructions provided by the testing-center staff.
How Is the Assessment Scored?
Part One and Part Two are scored separately. Scores for each part are reported on a scale from 400 to 600.
A scaled score of at least 520 is required on each part. A strong score on one part cannot make up for a score below 520 on the other part.
Selected-response questions are scored according to the number answered correctly. There is no penalty for an incorrect answer, so candidates should answer every selected-response question.
Performance tasks are evaluated using scoring criteria that consider the completeness, accuracy, relevance, support, and organization of the response.
Candidates whose score falls within one-half standard error of measurement of the passing score may be eligible to request a certification-exam score waiver from the New York State Education Department.
Receiving Scores
Score reports are released according to the published NYSTCE score-report schedule. Candidates can access their report through their testing account beginning at approximately 10:00 p.m. Eastern time on the assigned score-report date.
The report includes the total scaled score, pass or not-passed status, and diagnostic information about performance on the exam competencies and question types.
Retaking Part One or Part Two
Candidates who do not pass a part may register to take that part again.
- Wait at least 30 days before retaking the same part.
- Wait for the official score report from the previous attempt.
- Complete a new registration for the failed part.
- Pay the applicable examination fee again.
- Continue retesting until a passing score is achieved; there is no general lifetime attempt limit for an unpassed part.
Candidates who have already passed a part generally do not retake it unless a specific certification rule permits or requires another attempt.
How Can I Prepare?
Begin by reviewing the current test framework and completing diagnostic selected-response and performance-task practice.
Because written tasks make up most of the score, divide preparation time between leadership-content review and timed analytical writing.
School Building Leader Study Checklist
- Review instructional leadership and school-improvement planning.
- Practice analyzing student-performance and assessment data.
- Study culturally responsive curriculum and instruction.
- Review school culture, student well-being, equity, and social justice.
- Study teacher observation, evaluation, feedback, and professional development.
- Review faculty recruitment, retention, supervision, and professional learning communities.
- Study family communication, engagement, and community partnerships.
- Review school budgeting, scheduling, facilities, operations, and resource allocation.
- Study student and employee rights, confidentiality, due process, and school law.
- Practice analyzing classroom-observation videos and instructional evidence.
- Complete extended and shorter performance tasks under realistic time limits.
- Review every missed question and revise practice responses using the official scoring criteria.
Selected-Response Strategy
- Identify the leadership problem before reviewing the options.
- Prioritize student achievement, safety, equity, and legal compliance.
- Prefer collaborative and evidence-based leadership actions.
- Distinguish immediate responses from long-term improvement strategies.
- Eliminate actions that bypass policy, data, or stakeholder involvement.
- Answer every question because incorrect responses do not create an additional penalty.
Performance-Task Strategy
- Read the prompts before studying the exhibits.
- Identify the specific evidence needed for each prompt.
- Create a brief response outline.
- Support conclusions with data or details from the materials.
- Propose specific, feasible leadership actions.
- Explain how progress will be measured.
- Connect recommendations to student learning and well-being.
NYSTCE School Building Leader Study Resources
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