SAC Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which tool helps monitor instructional effectiveness? → Classroom observations
2. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) primarily protects: → Students' education records from unauthorized disclosure
3. Which of the following best describes the purpose of a universal screening assessment? → To identify all students who may need additional academic or behavioral support
4. When creating a teacher improvement plan, which element is most critical for it to be legally defensible? → Specific measurable goals, timelines, support resources, and documentation of progress
5. When evaluating an instructional program for adoption, which criterion should carry the most weight? → Alignment to state standards and evidence of efficacy
6. A principal receives a complaint from a community member alleging a teacher made racially insensitive remarks in class. The principal's first step should be to: → Conduct a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation before taking action
7. According to the NASSP and research on school turnaround, which factor is MOST critical for sustainably improving a negative school culture? → Distributing leadership and building the capacity of teacher leaders to co-own the culture
8. A student with an IEP transfers to a new school within the same state. What must the receiving school do? → Provide comparable services until a new IEP is developed
9. Which model of professional development is most consistent with adult learning theory and sustained instructional improvement? → Embedded, job-embedded coaching with ongoing feedback cycles
10. Why is curriculum alignment important? → To align instruction with standards
11. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) returned primary authority for school accountability to: → State educational agencies
12. The TPACK framework describes effective technology integration in terms of which three intersecting knowledge domains? → Technology, Pedagogy, and Content Knowledge
13. Which of the following is an example of a transition service required in an IEP for students age 16 or older? → Career exploration and job training linked to post-secondary goals
14. Under FERPA, who has the right to access a student's educational records? → Parents of minor students and the student once they turn 18
15. A principal wants to assess the school's climate. Which instrument is most commonly used for this purpose? → School Climate Survey administered to students, staff, and families
16. Restorative practices in schools are primarily used to: → Repair relationships and rebuild community after conflicts or harm
17. A principal implements learning walks across classrooms each week. The primary purpose of learning walks is to: → Collect data on instructional practices to inform professional development
18. How should ethical dilemmas be addressed? → Use an ethical decision-making framework
19. What does 'supplement, not supplant' mean in the context of federal education funding? → Federal funds must increase total education spending, not replace state and local funds
20. How can school leaders support effective instruction? → Provide ongoing professional development
21. Which action best promotes community engagement? → Create frequent, inclusive engagement opportunities
22. What is the primary function of a Professional Learning Community (PLC)? → To bring teachers together to collaboratively examine student data and improve instruction
23. What role does data play in school leadership? → Guides instructional improvement
24. Which of the following is an example of a capital expenditure in school finance? → Purchasing a school bus or constructing a new gymnasium
25. Which of the following supports effective resource allocation? → Using data-driven budgeting
26. When preparing a school-level budget, an administrator should align expenditures primarily with: → The school improvement plan goals and student learning priorities
27. A norm-referenced test compares a student's performance to: → A national or representative sample of students
28. Which data source would be most useful for identifying chronic absenteeism trends in a school? → Daily attendance records tracked over time
29. A school administrator is applying systems thinking to school improvement. This approach requires the leader to: → Understand how interdependent parts of the organization affect each other and the whole
30. A student's IEP team is determining placement. Which factor should be weighted most heavily? → The student's individual educational needs and LRE requirements