The Council’s Superintendent Model Evaluation (NYSCOSS)
NYSCOSS superintendent model evaluation is developed by the NYS Council of School Superintendents to help boards and superintendents build constructive, goal-focused evaluations. Required annually by New York State law, this model evaluation is the primary instrument through which school boards provide formal feedback on superintendent performance — assessing whether district goals are being achieved and identifying what needs to be done when they are not.
The evaluation helps boards and superintendents develop thoughtful, constructive evaluations that advance district goals and keep the leadership team healthy. Each section of the rubric contains indicators with specific criteria rated on a four-point scale: highly effective, effective, developing, and ineffective. This scale provides a consistent framework for performance conversations while leaving room for the professional judgment that effective evaluation requires.
A strong superintendent evaluation process, as defined by NYSCOSS, accomplishes several things:
The NYSCOSS model is built on the principle that evaluation should be a collaborative process — one that the superintendent and board approach together rather than one in which the board acts as judge and the superintendent as subject. The instrument supports year-round goal setting, evidence collection, and reflective dialogue, ensuring that the annual evaluation conversation is grounded in a documented record of leadership work rather than end-of-year impressions. For New York school boards, this model provides a legally compliant, research-informed foundation for fulfilling one of their most consequential governance responsibilities. NYSCOSS provides member districts with implementation guidance, training, and support resources to help boards and superintendents use the model effectively. For New York school boards seeking a legally compliant, professionally credible evaluation instrument that strengthens both governance and leadership, the NYSCOSS model remains one of the field's most trusted resources.
This rubric is applicable for the following roles: Superintendent