The Assessment Skills Center (ASC) for Aspiring Principals and Assistant Principals

The Baltimore County Public School System builds and sustains a pathway for school-based administrators by evaluating a prospective school-based leader’s skills. The postings for the Assessment Skills Center (ASC) for Principals and Assistant Principals are currently on the BCPS Careers website. To participate in either the ASC for aspiring Principals or Assistant Principals, ALL application materials must be fully submitted by the posted due dates.

Assessment Skills Center Application Interview and Submission Dates for Aspiring Principals and Aspiring Assistant Principals

Interview dates have limited slots and are filled as applications are completed.
Once interview dates are full, we will move to the next date.
Once all dates are full, we will move forward with a wait list.
Candidates that do not move forward from a Fall interview may be invited to interview in the Spring, but you cannot interview twice in the Spring.

The postings for “Principal (Elementary, Middle, and High School) – To Create a Candidate Pool;”

and,

“Assistant Principal (Elementary, Middle, and High School) – to Create a Candidate Pool” were posted on Friday, October 3, 2025. The Assessment Skills Center dates and application deadlines are as follows:

Principal ASC - Fall Sessions
*Principal candidates do not get separated as elementary or secondary.

ASC Interview Date	Application Deadline
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 (Fall)	Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 (Spring)	Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 (Spring)	Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Assistant Principal ASC - Fall Sessions (Spring dates will be released mid-January, 2026)

When selecting an interview date, make sure you review the schedule carefully as sessions are separated as Elementary or Secondary Interview.
Candidates that successfully move to the AP Candidate Pool, can interview for elementary, middle or high school once in the Candidate Pool.

ASC Interview Date	Application Deadline
Wednesday, November 12, 2025	Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Wednesday, January 28, 2026	Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Thursday, February 5, 2026	Thursday, January 29, 2026
Thursday, February 19, 2026	Monday, February 9, 2026

Assistant Principal ASC - Spring Sessions to be posted late January, 2026:

ASC Interview Date	Application Deadline
TBD	TBD
TBD	TBD
TBD	TBD
TBD	TBD

The ASC Application Process and Requirements for Aspiring Principals and Aspiring Assistant Principals

The ASC for Principals and Assistant Principals will be held in person.
BCPS Employee Development Center (formerly Loyola Graduate Center)
2034 Greenspring Drive
Timonium, MD 21093

Step 1 must be completed on the BCPS Careers website.

The ASC Application Process and Requirements for Aspiring Principals and Aspiring Assistant Principals

The ASC for Principals and Assistant Principals will be held in person.

BCPS Employee Development Center (formerly Loyola Graduate Center)

2034 Greenspring Drive

Timonium, MD 21093

Step 1 must be completed on the BCPS Careers website.

STEP 1 MUST BE COMPLETED BY BOTH PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL CANDIDATES

Applicant will submit a complete application through Oracle, BCPS Careers

Applicant will submit applicable proof of appropriate licensure/certification

Applicant will submit current resume

Applicant will identify a reference (references will be submitted through Frontline, once you submit your application through Oracle, you will receive directions to complete the reference portion of your application)

Internal Candidates: For school-based applicants, 2 supervisory references are required. One reference must be the applicant’s current supervisor (principal or Executive Director). If the applicant’s current supervisor is new to the applicant, the applicant should also request a reference from their former supervisor.

External Candidates: Must submit one supervisory reference to be eligible for candidate pool consideration. You will need to submit a current supervisor reference prior to being appointed.

School based candidates: A reference from your current principal/supervisor is required.

Central office candidates: A reference from your current supervisor is required.

PRINCIPAL CANDIDATES:

Step 2A - External Principal Candidates with 3 years or more experience OR

BCPS Principal Intern Candidates

Completion of step 1

Step 2B - All Other Candidates (internal candidates with Admin I & II, external candidates with less than 3 years experience

Applicant will submit Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Assessment Skills Center Writing Prompt (Once Step 1 is submitted and reviewed, the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion ASC Writing Prompt will be emailed to you).

Assessment Center will be held in-person and will take 4-5 hours. Participants will complete and present 2 performance tasks. They will also participate in an interview where they will respond to 4 questions.

Part I: Performance/Presentation Tasks

Data Interpretation - In this task candidates will be asked to review data for a school and asked to identify opportunities in areas that need additional support

Instructional Observation – In this task candidates will be asked to review a lesson plan and prepare 3-5 questions to discuss with the teacher during a pre-observation conference.

Part II: Interview

Questions are aligned with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL) and are scenario-based.

Questions and responses will take approximately 20 minutes for 4 questions.

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL CANDIDATES:

Completion of step 1

Logistics of Interview – Principal Candidates

Part I: 5-7 minutes- Performance Task (see below)

Part II: 20 minutes- Scenario-Based Interview Questions

Interview is conducted by a panel.

The presentation format is the candidate’s choice.

Part I: Performance Task

Prepare a 5–7-minute presentation on the following topic:

Highlight an aspect of your leadership where your work positively impacted data in instruction and/or equity. Address how this would speak to your work as an Assistant Principal or Principal.

Provide a direct connection to your work and the outcomes.

Include what, why, how, and the outcomes of your work.

The presentation will be evaluated based on evidence of:

Communication skills

Vision implementation

Leadership implementation.

Be prepared to share your screen, if applicable.

Part II: Interview

Questions are aligned with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL) and are scenario-based.

Questions and responses will take approximately 20 minutes for 4 questions.

Baltimore County Public SchoolsEngage. Empower. Excel.

School & Office Leader Opportunities

School & Office Leader Opportunities

Baltimore County Public Schools
Engage. Empower. Excel.