More US Schools Operating Without Principals

The Christian Science Monitor (9/2, Khadaroo) reports that more schools throughout the US are operating without principals. The concept is becoming more popular as educators brainstorm ways to boost student achievement and the call for more "teacher accountability" grows. The Monitor points out that in teacher-led schools, "teachers' participation tends to create a culture quite different from that in a traditional principal-led school: Teachers can't hide behind the classroom door or complain about policies, because they have to come up with solutions." While most "student achievement...results are still coming in," the Monitor says that some teacher-run schools do have a history of success. For instance, "in Milwaukee, where teacher cooperatives contract with the district to run about a dozen schools, standardized test scores are higher than the district average at some of the schools, but lower at others."