Nov 2

What is a Passing Score for FELE

The Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE) is an assessment that helps shape future educational leaders within Florida. 

The assessment evaluates aspiring educational administrators' knowledge, skills, and competencies. It serves as a benchmark for those seeking to take on leadership positions within schools.

If you are an educator with ambitions to assume leadership responsibilities, the FELE exam is a crucial stepping stone to your career goal. It is tailored for those who aspire to lead schools toward success, cultivate positive learning environments, and drive continuous improvement in educational institutions.

In this article, we’ll provide a deep understanding of the FELE exam and its significance. We’ll cover the passing score and other essential details to equip you with the knowledge to approach this examination confidently.

What Is FELE? 

FELE stands for Florida Educational Leadership Examination. It’s an assessment designed to evaluate the skill sets of aspiring school administrators in Florida.

The assessment is an important step in the certification process for educators seeking to become principals and assistant principals within Florida's educational system.

The certification testing requirements for educators seeking certification in Educational Leadership are outlined in Florida Statute 1012.56.

As per these requirements, candidates must take and successfully pass all three subtests of the FELE. 

FELE is different from the FTCE (Florida Teacher Certification Examinations). They’re both Florida educator assessments but differ in purpose and focus.

For instance, FELE is intended for educators who are seeking certification in educational leadership positions, such as principals and assistant principals. On the other hand, the FTCE is designed for educators who are seeking certification in various teaching fields such as elementary, middle school or high school.

FELE covers areas such as instructional leadership, organizational development, communication, decision-making, and ethical leadership while the FTCE covers subject-specific knowledge, teaching methods, pedagogical skills, and classroom management strategies.

The FELE consists of three subtests, covering 13 different domains within the educational leadership curriculum. 

These subtests are as in the table below.

Subtest 1: Leadership for Student Learning Subtest 2: Organizational Development Subtest 3: Systems Leadership
  • Student Achievement and human development
  • Instructional Leadership and Assessment
  • Organizational development
  • Human Resource Leadership
  • Ethical Leadership and professional responsibility
  • Systems Leadership
  • Leadership for Learning
  • Communication and community relations
  • Decision making and problem-solving
  • Technology and Information Systems
  • Diversity Leadership
  • Advocacy and Influence
  • Managerial Leadership

Achieving a passing score on each subtest demonstrates your readiness to assume leadership roles in education and effectively manage various aspects of school administration.

Passing Score for FELE

Once you’ve completed your FELE assessment, your performance is evaluated against established criteria to determine whether you’ve achieved a passing score. 

The score report you receive contains your passing status and additional performance information for each test you have taken.

Your official score report is automatically provided through your FTCE/FELE contractor website account for each FELE subtest you take. This report includes detailed information about your performance in various domains and areas assessed by the examination.

Note: Score reports are available for five years from the release date. After this timeframe, the score reports are longer available for retrieval.

If you wish to have your scores sent directly to your district or college, you must request this during registration. It will allow your educational institution to receive your scores for administrative purposes.

Passing scores achieved on the FELE are automatically submitted to the Department of Education's Bureau of Educator Certification.

It helps ensure that your certification progress is accurately documented to support your journey toward becoming a certified educational leader within Florida.

Reporting

FELE results are reported as either "PASS" or "NOT PASS." To successfully pass any multiple-choice or composite test within the FELE, you must achieve a score of at least 200. 

In addition, to pass the entire FELE/FTCE examination, you must pass all subtests or sections of the test.

Here are some guidelines on interpreting your FELE score report:

  •   If your score report indicates "NOT PASS" for any test, subtest, or section, a numerical score will indicate your performance. The score will help you understand your strengths and areas for improvement.
  •   If you receive a "NOT PASS" result, you can retake the test, subtest, or section 31 days after your most recent attempt. Note that you may not retake a test, subtest, or section for which you received a "PASS" result for a period of three years.
  •   Occasionally, a score report might indicate "PENDING." It usually happens when there is a delay in scoring or when the result for a performance-based subtest or section is not yet available. It means that the final result is forthcoming and will be provided once it's ready.


Whether you achieve a passing status or encounter a "NOT PASS" result, the feedback provided in the score report will guide your preparation and decision-making as you work toward meeting the certification requirements.

General Knowledge (GK) Test Scores

The General Knowledge (GK) test comprises four subtests, each assessing different areas of knowledge and skills. Namely:

  • GK Essay
  • GK English Language Skills (ELS)
  • GK Reading
  • GK Mathematics

    Each of these subtests is administered, scored, and reported independently to allow a comprehensive evaluation of your abilities in various aspects.

    For the GK test, the passing score criteria for the subtests are as follows:

  •   GK Essay (Writing Subtest): To pass the GK Essay, you must earn at least 8 out of 12 possible points. The essay is evaluated based on the effectiveness of the writing, including the clarity of expression, organization, and development of ideas.
  •   GK English Language Skills (ELS), Reading, and Mathematics (Multiple-Choice Subtests): To pass these subtests, you need to achieve a score of at least 200. The scaled score takes into account the difficulty level of the questions and ensures fair scoring across different versions of the test.

The GK test effectively assesses your writing skills and proficiency in English language skills, reading comprehension, and mathematics by having separate passing score criteria for the essay and the multiple-choice subtests.

Professional Education Test (PEd) Scores

The Professional Education Test (PEd) is an assessment designed to evaluate the knowledge of professional education practices. 

This test is part of the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) and is aimed at testing aspiring teachers’ knowledge of pedagogy and professional practice.

The PEd test covers educational theory, pedagogy, instructional methods, classroom management, assessment strategies, and ethics. It assesses your grasp of the core principles required for effective teaching and classroom leadership.

To successfully pass the PEd test, you are required to achieve a score of at least 200. Achieving this passing score on the PEd demonstrates that you have a solid understanding of the concepts of professional education.

Subject Area Examination (SAE) Scores

To pass the multiple-choice section of the SAE, a scaled score of at least 200 is required. For the written performance section of the SAE, candidates must achieve a score of at least 8 out of 12 possible points to pass. 

The section involves tasks that assess your ability to analyze and articulate subject-specific content coherently.

As of January 1, 2015, a scaled score of at least 200 is required to pass the multiple-choice section of the SAE. 

The change in the passing score criteria ensures that candidates demonstrate an understanding of the subject matter and are well-prepared to teach the subject in a classroom.

Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE) Scores

To successfully pass the FELE examination, you must pass all three subtests. Each subtest assesses specific aspects of educational leadership, and collectively they ensure that you are equipped to fulfill the responsibilities of leadership roles in educational settings.

For FELE Subtest 1 and FELE Subtest 2, a scaled score of at least 200 is required to pass. 

For FELE Subtest 2 (for tests taken before January 1, 2009) and FELE Subtest 3 (for tests taken from January 1, 2015), the scoring is divided into a multiple-choice section and a written performance section.

  •    Multiple-Choice Section: To pass the multiple-choice section of Subtest 2 (before 2009) or Subtest 3 (after 2015), a scaled score of at least 200 is required. The score reflects your understanding of the multiple-choice questions related to educational leadership concepts.
  •   Written Performance Section: To pass the written performance section of Subtest 2 (before 2009) or Subtest 3 (after 2015), you must score at least 8 out of 12 points. The section assesses your ability to communicate and apply your knowledge in written form effectively.

FELE Competencies and Skills

In this section, we will explore the skills and competencies tested for in each of the FELE subtests. 

Subtest #1: Leadership for Student Learning

FELE Subtest 1 focuses on assessing your knowledge of leadership aspects related to facilitating positive achievement results, prioritizing student learning, curriculum alignment, and creating a conducive learning environment. 

The following are the key knowledge areas covered by this subtest:

  •    Knowledge of strategies to facilitate student achievement aligned with learning goals and state accountability measures.
  •   Understanding of data-driven decision-making processes to improve student outcomes.
  •   Skill in analyzing student assessment data to inform instructional practices.
  •   Knowledge of leadership actions that foster a culture of continuous improvement and student success.
  •    Understanding of building and supporting a learning organization focused on enhancing student learning outcomes.
  •    Ability to engage stakeholders in collaborative efforts to improve educational practices.
  •    Knowledge of effective development and implementation of an instructional framework that aligns curriculum with state standards.
  •    Understanding evidence-based instructional strategies and their application to meet diverse student learning needs.
  •    Skill in creating assessment strategies that promote student growth.
  •    Knowledge of creating and sustaining a school environment that supports learning for all student populations.
  •    Understanding strategies to address student diversity and promote inclusivity.
  •    Skill in designing processes that ensure a safe learning atmosphere.

Subtest #2: Organizational Development


    FELE Subtest #2, assess your proficiency in building and sustaining a well-functioning educational organization. It evaluates your expertise in organizational development, personnel management, and leadership cultivation within the educational context.

    Key knowledge areas covered by this subtest include:

    •    Knowledge of effective strategies for recruiting a diverse and high-performing faculty and staff.
    •    Understanding practices that ensure a smooth induction process for new educators.
    •    Skill in aligning recruitment practices with the organization's values and goals.
    •   Knowledge of effective practices to nurture the professional development of staff.
    •   Understanding of strategies to retain high-performing individuals within the institution.
    •    Skill in creating a supportive work environment that promotes job satisfaction and performance.
    •    Knowledge of practices that identify, cultivate, and develop leadership potential within the organization.
    •    Understanding of methods to provide mentorship for emerging leaders.
    •    Knowledge of ethical standards aligned with education and community leadership.
    •    Understanding of the role of personal and professional integrity in building trust and credibility.
    •    Skill in modeling behaviors that uphold standards of excellence in education leadership.

    Subtest #3: Systems Leadership

    FELE Subtest #3 assesses your knowledge in leading educational systems, making effective decisions, managing resources, ensuring a safe learning environment, and maintaining strong communication with stakeholders.

    The subtest evaluates your expertise in maintaining legal and ethical compliance and establishing effective communication. 

    Here are the key knowledge areas covered by this subtest:

    •    Knowledge of utilizing research, best practices, and leadership theory to make informed decisions that align with the mission and improvement priorities of schools.
    •    Skill in involving stakeholders to gain diverse perspectives in decision-making.
    •    Understanding of management practices that maximize organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
    •    Skill in aligning operational practices with the educational mission and goals.
    •    Understanding of optimizing resource utilization to achieve educational goals.
    •    Skill in budgeting, financial planning, and resource optimization.
    •    Knowledge of legal practices and regulations that ensure a safe learning environment for students and staff.
    •    Understanding of ethical considerations and legal responsibilities in school leadership.
    •    Skill in applying legal principles to maintain compliance with regulations.
    •    Knowledge of communication strategies that build and maintain collaborative relationships with stakeholders.
    •    Understanding of effective communication methods for achieving school and system-wide goals.
    •    Skill in fostering open and transparent communication within the educational community.

    Preparing for FELE 

    The FELE evaluates your knowledge, skills, and abilities across various domains of educational leadership, ensuring that you are equipped to excel in education administration. It gauges your readiness to take on leadership responsibilities within the educational landscape.

    Effective preparation for the FELE empowers you to tackle the exam's content and format confidently.
    Adequate preparation not only enhances your chances of achieving passing scores but also equips you with the skills needed to excel as an educational leader.
    We invite you to consider preparing for the FELE with The Learning Liaisons. Our extensive resources, study materials, and expert guidance are tailored to help you navigate the areas covered by the FELE.

    By investing time and effort into your preparation, you are investing in your professional growth and your ability to make a meaningful impact in education leadership.