The Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH) set out what a DepEd school head should know, be able to do and value. DepEd Order No. 024, s. 2020 adopted them on September 7, 2020. They have five domains, which “collectively comprise 34 strands” (PPSSH, p. 4), and four career stages. Each strand has one indicator for each career stage, so the standards hold 136 indicators in all (computed).
The PPSSH replaced the National Competency-Based Standards for School Heads: DO 024 rescinded DepEd Order No. 32, s. 2010 (para. 8). As of November 8, 2026, no DepEd order has amended the PPSSH. It is the basis of the National Assessment for School Heads (NASH), whose questions are “aligned with the standards set by the” PPSSH (DepEd Memorandum No. 069, s. 2025, para. 3), and of the career stages DepEd assigns to School Principal positions.
Key findings
- Five domains, 34 strands. Leading Strategically (7 strands), Managing School Operations and Resources (6), Focusing on Teaching and Learning (8), Developing Self and Others (8) and Building Connections (5) (PPSSH, p. 4).
- Four career stages. Career Stage 1 is for “aspiring school heads” who “have acquired the prerequisite qualifications for the school head position”; Career Stages 2 to 4 describe school heads who apply, then deepen, then master the standards (PPSSH, p. 5).
- 136 indicators. One indicator for each of the 34 strands at each of the 4 career stages (computed from the domain tables, PPSSH, pp. 6–20).
- A foundation for HR systems. DO 024 says the PPSSH “shall be the foundation of relevant human resource systems, policies, guidelines and mechanisms”, including recruitment, appraisal, rewards and talent management (Encl., para. 8). In 2020, it kept “existing policies” in force until guidelines anchored on the PPSSH were issued (Encl., para. 22); DO 024, s. 2025 now ties hiring and promotion to “the appropriate proficiency level” under the PPSSH (Encl. No. 1, Sec. 20).
- The NASH reports by domain. NASH results give an overall score and a score for each domain, and a taker’s competency level depends on the overall score and on how many domain scores reach 65 (DepEd Memorandum No. 097, s. 2025, paras. 4–5; DepEd Memorandum No. 044, s. 2026, paras. 4–5).
- Principal positions have career stages. School Principal I and II are at Career Stage II, School Principal III at Career Stage III and School Principal IV at Career Stage IV (DepEd Order No. 024, s. 2025, Encl. No. 1, Sec. 22.b).
What the PPSSH is
DO 024 calls the PPSSH “a public statement of professional accountability for school heads to reflect on and assess their own practice as they aspire for and pursue professional development” (para. 4). It aims to:
- “set out clear expectations of school heads along well-defined career stages of professional development from beginning to exemplary practice”;
- “engage school heads to actively embrace a continuing effort to attain high levels of proficiency”; and
- “provide support for professional learning and development, help identify development needs and facilitate uniform assessment of performance” (para. 6).
It covers DepEd’s school heads, and “School heads or principals in private schools are encouraged to use the PPSSH” (para. 7). Its three building blocks are defined in the order (Encl., para. 7):
| Term | DO 024, s. 2020 definition |
|---|---|
| Domain | “A broad conceptual sphere of school leadership practices defined by specific strands” |
| Strand | “A specific dimension of practice under a domain” |
| Indicator | “Concrete, observable and measurable school head behavior/ practice covered in every strand” |
The standards were developed by DepEd’s Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development (BHROD) and the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) with the Philippine National Research Center for Teacher Quality (RCTQ) (para. 5). From NCBS-SH to PPSSH: DepEd Standards for School Heads traces how they replaced the 2010 standards.
The five domains and 34 strands
The domain and strand names below are the PPSSH’s own (pp. 4 and 6–20). Each domain has its own guide on this blog, with every strand’s Career Stage 1 indicator and DepEd data to practice on.
Domain 1: Leading Strategically (7 strands)
Setting “the direction, goals, and objectives of schools” and ensuring “these are understood and embraced by all stakeholders” (PPSSH, p. 6).
1.1 Vision, mission and core values · 1.2 School planning and implementation · 1.3 Policy implementation and review · 1.4 Research and innovation · 1.5 Program design and implementation · 1.6 Learner voice · 1.7 Monitoring and evaluation processes and tools
Guide: PPSSH Domain 1 for the NASH: Leading Strategically.
Domain 2: Managing School Operations and Resources (6 strands)
“Managing systems and processes in schools”, with a commitment to “efficiency, effectiveness, and fairness in discharging functions” (PPSSH, p. 9).
2.1 Records management · 2.2 Financial management · 2.3 School facilities and equipment · 2.4 Management of staff · 2.5 School safety for disaster preparedness, mitigation and resiliency · 2.6 Emerging opportunities and challenges
Guide: PPSSH Domain 2 for the NASH: Managing School Operations.
Domain 3: Focusing on Teaching and Learning (8 strands)
“Promoting quality teaching and learning”, through “instructional leadership towards improving competence among teachers and outcomes among learners” (PPSSH, p. 12).
3.1 School-based review, contextualization and implementation of learning standards · 3.2 Teaching standards and pedagogies · 3.3 Teacher performance feedback · 3.4 Learner achievement and other performance indicators · 3.5 Learning assessment · 3.6 Learning environment · 3.7 Career awareness and opportunities · 3.8 Learner discipline
Guide: PPSSH Domain 3 for the NASH: Teaching and Learning.
Domain 4: Developing Self and Others (8 strands)
“Nurturing themselves and others”, with a commitment to “people and team effectiveness” (PPSSH, p. 15).
4.1 Personal and professional development · 4.2 Professional reflection and learning · 4.3 Professional networks · 4.4 Performance management · 4.5 Professional development of school personnel · 4.6 Leadership development in individuals and teams · 4.7 General welfare of human resources · 4.8 Rewards and recognition mechanism
Guide: PPSSH Domain 4 for the NASH: Developing Self and Others.
Domain 5: Building Connections (5 strands)
“Engaging stakeholders in initiatives towards the improvement of school communities”, advocating “that education is everyone’s responsibility” (PPSSH, p. 18).
5.1 Management of diverse relationships · 5.2 Management of school organizations · 5.3 Inclusive practice · 5.4 Communication · 5.5 Community engagement
Guide: PPSSH Domain 5 for the NASH: Building Connections.
The four career stages
The career stages describe a school head’s growth “from beginning to exemplary practice” (para. 6). The PPSSH describes each one (p. 5), and DepEd’s career progression rules assign a stage to each School Principal position.
| Career stage | Who it describes (PPSSH, p. 5) | Positions under DO 024, s. 2025 (Encl. No. 1, Sec. 22.b and Figure 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Career Stage 1 | “aspiring school heads” who “have acquired the prerequisite qualifications for the school head position” and “demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of the authority, responsibility, and accountability expected of school heads” | “Aspiring Principals” (no position) |
| Career Stage 2 | School heads who “apply the required knowledge and understanding” and “are professionally independent in performing their functions as instructional leaders and administrative managers” | School Principal I and II |
| Career Stage 3 | School heads who “consistently display an in-depth knowledge and understanding”, “exhibit advanced skills” and “establish shared governance with the wider school community” | School Principal III |
| Career Stage 4 | School heads who “consistently exhibit mastery”, “model the highest standards of practice” and “empower the wider school community” | School Principal IV |
Republic Act No. 12288’s implementing rules would place School Principal IV at Career Stage III and a new School Principal V at Career Stage IV (IRR, Sec. 6). As of November 8, 2026, no DepEd issuance applies that map; What RA 12288 Changes in Teacher Career Progression tracks it.
How the indicators are written
Each strand has one indicator per career stage, and the four often read as a ladder: knowing, doing, doing it with others, then institutionalizing or sharing the practice, sometimes beyond the school. Strand 1.2, School planning and implementation, shows the pattern (PPSSH, Domain 1 table, p. 7):
| Career stage | Indicator 1.2 |
|---|---|
| 1 | “Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the phases of development and implementation of school plans aligned with institutional goals and policies.” |
| 2 | “Develop and implement with the planning team school plans aligned with institutional goals and policies.” |
| 3 | “Engage the school community in the development and implementation of school plans aligned with institutional goals and policies.” |
| 4 | “Share with fellow school heads best practice in the development and implementation of school plans aligned with institutional goals and policies.” |
Indicators are numbered domain, strand, career stage: 1.2.1 is Domain 1, Strand 2, Career Stage 1. Of the 34 Career Stage 1 indicators, 23 begin with “Demonstrate”, 16 of them with “Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of” (computed from the domain tables). Most ask for knowledge and understanding; three ask for skills (2.1.1, 5.1.1 and 5.4.1) and five for actions (3.4.1, 4.1.1, 4.3.1, 4.8.1 and 5.5.1).
How the NASH and DepEd use the PPSSH
The NASH. The assessment covers “conceptual and situational critical thinking questions aligned with the standards set by the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH)”, with the Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome (SOLO) taxonomy as its framework (DM 069, s. 2025, para. 3). Scores are computed for each indicator, then each domain, then overall, and a taker meets the PPSSH standards “in 4 domains” or “in 3 domains”, or has “Developmental Areas”, depending on the overall score and the domain scores (DM 097, s. 2025, paras. 4–5; DM 044, s. 2026, paras. 4–5). Batch 1 takers also received an Individual Development Report giving their “strengths, areas for improvement, and recommended developmental interventions” (DM 097, s. 2025, para. 9). NASH vs NQESH: What the NASH Is and What Changed and the NASH study guide explain the assessment.
Promotion. To advance in the School Administration career line, an applicant must “meet the desired proficiency level for school heads defined under the PPSSH as may be assessed through the applicable DepEd-administered school head assessment and/or Certificate of Competency Level issued by the authorized body (if applicable)” (DO 024, s. 2025, Encl. No. 1, Sec. 22.b), a requirement DO 024 makes “Applicable only upon establishment of a system of recognition” by the Teacher Education Council (Encl. No. 1, footnote 14). Incumbent principals “shall no longer be required to pass the school head assessment” when applying for higher School Principal positions (DepEd Order No. 034, s. 2025, para. 16). Career stage-based promotion for principals “shall not yet be implemented” until a career stage recognition system or PPSSH-based office and individual performance forms are issued; meanwhile, a School Principal I may apply for any of School Principal II to IV, subject to qualification standards, competency assessments, staffing standards and funds (DM-OUHRODI-2026-0802, Sec. V.4); School Principal I to IV: Promotion Under the ECP explains what applies meanwhile.
Training and HR systems. DO 024, s. 2020 directs BHROD to anchor the selection, hiring, appraisal, promotion and talent management of school heads on the PPSSH, and NEAP to anchor “all professional development interventions and programs for school heads” on it (Encl., paras. 13–14).
Download the PPSSH
The PDF of DO 024, s. 2020 holds the order, its policy enclosure (Sections I–X), then the PPSSH booklet with its introduction, guiding principles, domains and strands, career stages, the five domain tables, a glossary and references. The PPSSH resource page links DepEd’s official PDF.
What this means for school heads
- Use the strand codes. Plans, LAC sessions and coaching notes that name the indicator they serve (“1.2.2”, “4.4.2”) connect daily work to the standards DepEd assesses.
- Self-assess against Career Stage 1 or 2. Indicator 4.1.1 asks an aspiring school head to “Conduct self-assessment of personal and professional development needs using the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads.”
- Read the next stage up. For a School Principal I or II, Career Stage 3 describes the next step in practice: shared governance with the wider school community. Career stage-based promotion is not yet implemented (DM-OUHRODI-2026-0802, Sec. V.4), so the stage guides growth rather than a promotion assessment.
- Coach teachers who aspire to lead. Help them gather evidence for Career Stage 1 indicators in their current roles, such as coordinatorships, LAC sessions and school planning teams.
Frequently asked questions
How many domains and strands are in the PPSSH?
Five domains and 34 strands: Leading Strategically (7), Managing School Operations and Resources (6), Focusing on Teaching and Learning (8), Developing Self and Others (8) and Building Connections (5) (PPSSH, p. 4).
How many indicators does the PPSSH have?
- Each of the 34 strands has one indicator for each of the four career stages (computed from the domain tables, PPSSH, pp. 6–20).
What is Career Stage 1 in the PPSSH?
Career Stage 1 describes “aspiring school heads” who “have acquired the prerequisite qualifications for the school head position” and “demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of the authority, responsibility, and accountability expected of school heads” (PPSSH, p. 5).
Is the PPSSH still in force?
Yes. DO 024, s. 2020 adopted it, and as of November 8, 2026, no DepEd order has amended or replaced it. The NASH and DepEd’s career progression rules both refer to it (DM 069, s. 2025, para. 3; DO 024, s. 2025, Encl. No. 1, Sec. 22.b).
Where can I download the PPSSH PDF?
The PPSSH is printed with DO 024, s. 2020. DepEd’s official copy is linked from the PPSSH resource page.
Sources
DepEd issuances
- DepEd Order No. 024, s. 2020, National Adoption and Implementation of the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads, September 7, 2020: paras. 4–8; Encl., paras. 7–8, 13–14 and 22; Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads, pp. 4–20
- DepEd Order No. 024, s. 2025, Guidelines on the Implementation of the Expanded Career Progression System for Teachers and School Heads in the Department of Education, August 28, 2025: Encl. No. 1, Secs. 20 and 22.b, footnote 14, and Figure 1
- DepEd Memorandum No. 069, s. 2025, Administration of the National Assessment for School Heads for Fiscal Year 2025, August 11, 2025: para. 3
- DepEd Memorandum No. 097, s. 2025, Results of the National Assessment for School Heads for Fiscal Year 2025 (Batch 1), October 21, 2025: paras. 4, 5 and 9
- DM-OUHRODI-2026-0802, Guidance on the Reclassification of Teaching and School Principal Positions for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, March 13, 2026: Sec. V.4, as posted by SDO Nueva Vizcaya
- DepEd Order No. 034, s. 2025, Amendments and Clarifications to DepEd Order No. 024, s. 2025, October 14, 2025: para. 16
- DepEd Memorandum No. 044, s. 2026, Results of the National Assessment for School Heads for Fiscal Year 2025 (Batch 2), July 4, 2026: paras. 4–5
Laws
- Republic Act No. 12288, Career Progression System for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act, September 12, 2025, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, signed August 17, 2026: IRR, Sec. 6
Written by Mark Anthony Llego for NASH Reviewer. Sources: DepEd Order No. 024, s. 2020 and the PPSSH; DepEd Order No. 024, s. 2025; DepEd Memoranda No. 069 and 097, s. 2025; DM-OUHRODI-2026-0802; RA 12288 and its IRR. NASH Reviewer is not affiliated with DepEd.
