Alignment of the Performance Assessment for School Leaders to the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders: A Distance‐Based Approach

We conducted a distance‐based alignment study for the Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL). PASL is a multiple‐task portfolio assessment that requires candidates to submit contextual information, written responses, and artifacts (e.g., student work) to provide evidence of the completion of the task requirements. This alignment study supports the content validity of the PASL by providing evidence from external judges indicating that the assessment measures the knowledge and skills outlined in the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL). This research report also documents the distance‐based methods that were used to complete the alignment study. An expert panel of eight educators provided judgments indicating the alignment between the PASL and the PSEL. Panelists were provided with preparatory information about the assessment and the standards before attending a webinar that provided more detailed information about the PASL. Training was provided via recorded presentations, and panelists used an online survey to complete their alignment judgments independently. Panelists then completed final evaluations using an online survey. The panel judged that the PASL measures all 10 PSEL standards and 61% of the supporting elements.