Indiana Superintendent Evaluation Rubric
Developed collaboratively by the Indiana School Boards Association and the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, this competency-based rubric, known as the Indiana superintendent evaluation rubric, provides school boards and superintendents with a clear framework that supports reflective practice, effective leadership, and continuous improvement. The instrument reflects a shared commitment between Indiana’s two leading governance and leadership organizations to elevate the quality and consistency of superintendent evaluation across the state.
The rubric is organized across six interconnected domains:
A four-point performance scale — highly effective, effective, developing, and ineffective — provides distinct descriptors at each level, making it possible to differentiate performance meaningfully rather than assigning ratings based on general impressions. Each domain includes observable indicators reflecting research-aligned leadership behaviors, enabling evaluators and superintendents to collaboratively identify strengths, set priorities, and monitor growth over time.
The instrument is structured to support both summative evaluation and ongoing professional development. By grounding each indicator in observable practice, the rubric encourages superintendents to build a portfolio of evidence aligned to each domain throughout the year — moving evaluation from a single end-of-year event to a continuous cycle of reflection, documentation, and dialogue.
ISBA and IAPSS designed this instrument with the understanding that meaningful evaluation requires the active participation of the leader being evaluated. The superintendent is not merely the subject of the evaluation but a partner in defining goals, collecting evidence, and engaging in the kind of reflective practice that drives real professional growth. For Indiana school boards and district leaders, this rubric provides a principled, practical foundation for fulfilling one of the most important governance responsibilities in public education.
ISBA and IAPSS provide Indiana districts with implementation support and guidance to help boards and superintendents use the rubric effectively throughout the evaluation year. For Indiana school boards and superintendents seeking a state-specific, research-aligned evaluation framework, this collaborative instrument provides a strong foundation for meaningful professional evaluation.
This rubric is applicable for the following roles: Superintendent