SLLA Practice Exam 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A teacher reports that a student disclosed being physically abused at home. What is the principal's IMMEDIATE legal obligation?
- Contact the student's parents to discuss the allegation
- Report the disclosure to child protective services as a mandated reporter (Correct answer)
- Investigate the claim internally before involving outside agencies
- Document the allegation and monitor the situation for additional signs
Correct answer: Report the disclosure to child protective services as a mandated reporter
School leaders are mandated reporters and must report suspected child abuse to child protective services immediately, regardless of their own investigation.
Question 2: A school leader is building trust with a new staff. Which behavior is MOST important early in their tenure?
- Announcing major changes quickly to signal decisive leadership
- Listening actively, honoring commitments, and being transparent about decision-making (Correct answer)
- Deferring all difficult decisions until year two
- Aligning closely with the most influential teachers in the building
Correct answer: Listening actively, honoring commitments, and being transparent about decision-making
Trust is built through consistent, transparent, and responsive behavior—especially listening and following through on commitments.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of formative assessment?
- A state standardized test administered in spring
- A chapter test given at the end of a unit
- An exit ticket used by a teacher to gauge understanding during a lesson (Correct answer)
- A portfolio reviewed at the end of the semester
Correct answer: An exit ticket used by a teacher to gauge understanding during a lesson
Formative assessment occurs during instruction to inform teaching in real time, as with an exit ticket used mid-lesson.
Question 4: A principal is concerned that some teachers' grading practices are inconsistent and not aligned to learning objectives. What is the BEST corrective approach?
- Mandating that all teachers use the same point scale for all assignments
- Facilitating collaborative calibration sessions where teachers analyze and norm student work together (Correct answer)
- Allowing each teacher to maintain their grading autonomy as a professional right
- Having the assistant principal audit grade books monthly
Correct answer: Facilitating collaborative calibration sessions where teachers analyze and norm student work together
Collaborative calibration builds shared understanding of standards and ensures consistent, meaningful grading practices across classrooms.
Question 5: During budget planning, a principal must cut $50,000 from the school budget. Which guiding principle should MOST influence their decisions?
- Preserve all programs with the highest parent satisfaction ratings
- Make cuts equally across all departments to be fair
- Prioritize resources most directly tied to student learning and equity (Correct answer)
- Protect teacher positions above all other expenditures
Correct answer: Prioritize resources most directly tied to student learning and equity
Budget decisions aligned to student learning and equity ensure that cuts minimize harm to instruction and disproportionately affected student populations.
Question 6: A school leader wants to improve the effectiveness of professional learning communities (PLCs). Which condition is MOST essential?
- Scheduling PLC meetings at least three hours per week
- Ensuring PLCs have a structured, student-data-driven inquiry focus (Correct answer)
- Requiring PLCs to submit written protocols to administration after each meeting
- Rotating PLC facilitators monthly to share leadership
Correct answer: Ensuring PLCs have a structured, student-data-driven inquiry focus
PLCs are most effective when they are focused on student data and a structured inquiry cycle rather than on logistics or compliance tasks.
Question 7: A principal is addressing a conflict between two teachers that is disrupting department functioning. What approach reflects best leadership practice?
- Mediate a structured conversation focused on professional behavior and shared goals (Correct answer)
- Transfer one teacher to another department to eliminate the conflict
- Allow the conflict to resolve naturally without intervening
- Document the conflict and issue formal warnings to both parties
Correct answer: Mediate a structured conversation focused on professional behavior and shared goals
Mediation that refocuses parties on professional conduct and shared instructional goals addresses the root of the conflict while maintaining a healthy work environment.
SLLA Practice Exam 4
A teacher reports that a student disclosed being physically abused at home.
What is the principal's IMMEDIATE legal obligation?