Massachusetts Performance Assessment for Leaders (PAL)

Registration and ePortfolio for updated version of PAL opens August 26, 2025

As noted in prior updates, following the 2021 revisions to the Guidelines for the Preparation of Administrative Leaders , DESE worked with Evaluation Systems Group (ES) of Pearson to update the Performance Assessment for Leaders (PAL) to align it to the revised Guidelines and incorporate the anti-racist leadership competencies. The updates are now complete and are launching in the 2025-26 program year. The Program Year 2025-2026 Candidate Assessment Handbook  is available on the PAL website under the Coming Soon section. The page also includes a table outlining the updates to PAL.

The PAL registration and ePortfolio system will reopen on August 26, 2025. Candidates are expected to submit their PAL tasks in alignment with the Updated 2025-2026 PAL Candidate Assessment Handbook. PAL tasks submitted between August 26, 2025 and November 13, 2025 will receive score reports on December 22, 2025.

Please see PAL website for additional information.