North Carolina Principal Portfolio Assessment (NCPPA)

School leaders have the ability to create a school with meaningful achievement goals and expectations, respectful and trusting relationships among the adults and the students, and effective programs and practices—a place where all students can learn and feel safe and supported. Leaders base their work on their leadership knowledge; skills and dispositions; evidence and research; and the commitment of staff, families, and the community. To help ensure that school leaders are effective, all candidates seeking principal/assistant principal licensure in North Carolina now must meet state performance assessment requirements.

Toward that end, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has supported the development and implementation of the North Carolina Principal Portfolio Assessment (NCPPA). The NCPPA assessment system is designed to produce clear evidence of a candidate's readiness for an initial school leadership position. It is aligned with other North Carolina leadership development efforts to prepare, support, and evaluate principals and assistant principals.

The NCPPA is aligned with the North Carolina Standards for School Executives, the national performance assessment requirements of the Educational Leadership Coordinating Council (ELCC) in its national accreditation program and policy standards, and the Interstate School Leadership Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) 2008.

With the passage of Session Law 2024-57, any candidate who has not completed at least one course towards a degree or licensure-only program by August 31, 2025, will be required to complete the NCPPA for obtaining a principal license. Candidates are required to register for and pay a fee to complete each NCPPA task.

Format

Performance assessment consisting of three leadership tasks:

• Task 1: Leadership through a Vision for High Student Achievement
• Task 2: Instructional Leadership for a Professional Learning Culture
• Task 3: Leadership in Observing, Assessing, and Supporting Individual Teacher Effectiveness

Each task is divided into four components of leadership action that reflect the cycle of leadership inquiry and learning, as shown below.

Assessment Materials

Access the handbook, templates, evidence charts, and more.

Preparation

View the preparation materials available for this assessment.

Submission and Reporting Dates

View the submission deadlines associated with each reporting date.

Fees

Task 1: $125
Task 2: $150
Task 3: $150
Review complete fee and payment policy information.

Passing Score

The North Carolina Principal Portfolio Assessment is not a nationally normed assessment. It is standard operating procedure for Pearson to provide guidance to states in establishing cut scores, but it is ultimately up to each state to determine a) what the cut score is and b) when and how it takes effect. We defer to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to communicate that information to candidates.

Results

Scores are available at 10 p.m. eastern time on the results reporting dates.

Policies and Rules

When you register, you must agree to abide by all testing rules and policies.
Read them now.