SLLA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield SLLA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which type of school fund is used to cover day-to-day operational expenses such as salaries and utilities? → General fund
2. A school's value-added measure (VAM) is negative even though the school's proficiency rate is above the state average. This MOST likely means: → Students are entering the school above grade level but making less than expected growth
3. A school leader reviewing teacher observation data notices that student engagement is low across multiple classrooms. The SLLA-aligned response is to: → Provide targeted professional development and coaching around engagement strategies
4. A principal is hiring for a new teaching position and wants to ensure a diverse candidate pool. What is the MOST appropriate action? → Partner with HBCUs and minority-serving institutions to broaden recruitment outreach
5. A principal wants to increase family involvement at a school with many non-English-speaking families. What is the MOST effective first step? → Conduct a needs survey translated into the families' home languages
6. Under IDEA's procedural safeguards, what is the first required step in the dispute resolution process before a due process hearing? → Holding a resolution session between the parents and the district
7. Which leadership theory emphasizes inspiring followers by appealing to higher moral values and ideals? → Transformational leadership
8. In the SLLA context, a school leader's obligation to 'model ethical behavior' means: → Consistently demonstrating through actions the values expected of staff and students
9. What does 'carryover' mean in school budgeting? → Transferring unspent funds from one fiscal year to the next
10. Under the SLLA framework, which action best demonstrates a leader's ability to build organizational capacity? → Developing staff skills so they can lead initiatives independently
11. A school leader discovers that parent attendance at school events is consistently low in one neighborhood. The MOST appropriate response is to: → Analyze barriers such as transportation, work hours, and childcare availability
12. According to the SLLA Study Companion, which domain focuses on a school leader's ability to advocate for students and the school within the broader community? → Community and External Leadership
13. A principal reviews data showing that English Language Learners are significantly underperforming in math compared to their peers. What is the BEST first step? → Disaggregate data further to identify specific skill gaps and language barriers
14. Under the Gun-Free Schools Act, what is the minimum mandatory expulsion period for a student who brings a firearm to school? → One calendar year
15. When the SLLA Study Companion discusses 'formative assessment,' it is most concerned with assessments that: → Provide ongoing feedback to guide instructional adjustments during learning
16. A school leader uses the term 'asset-based thinking' when working with staff. What does this approach emphasize? → Focusing on the strengths and resources students and families bring to the school
17. Which federal law primarily governs the allocation of federal education funds to states under the Every Student Succeeds Act? → Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
18. A scenario on the SLLA presents a leader dealing with a staff conflict that is affecting team cohesion. The BEST leadership response is to: → Address the conflict directly, using collaborative problem-solving strategies
19. A principal discovers that a veteran teacher is padding attendance records to inflate enrollment numbers. The principal's FIRST action should be to: → Confront the teacher privately and document the conversation
20. Choose the correct answer → Does this strategy reach the parents who would most benefit?
21. A state's standardized assessment uses a scaled score rather than a raw score. The PRIMARY advantage of a scaled score is that it: → Allows valid comparisons across different test forms and years
22. When designing a school survey to gather stakeholder input, which practice MOST threatens the validity of the data collected? → Including leading questions that imply a preferred response
23. In school finance, what does the term 'encumbrance' refer to? → Funds reserved for anticipated future expenditures
24. Under Title IX, what must a school district do upon receiving a formal complaint of sexual harassment? → Promptly and equitably investigate the complaint using a grievance process
25. Which action BEST demonstrates a principal's commitment to equity in education? → Distributing resources, supports, and opportunities based on each student's unique needs
26. Which data source would BEST help a principal understand whether curriculum pacing is aligned across classrooms in the same grade level? → Common formative assessment results compared across classrooms
27. A parent demands to see another student's discipline records during a meeting about a bullying incident. How should the principal respond? → Decline and explain that FERPA protects the other student's educational records
28. A district policy conflicts with a building-level instructional practice that research shows is highly effective. How should the principal respond? → Advocate to district leadership with evidence while implementing the policy in good faith
29. Which management function is a principal performing when reviewing mid-year benchmark data and adjusting the professional development calendar? → Controlling/monitoring
30. Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which of the following rights is guaranteed to homeless students? → Immediate enrollment in school even without normally required documents