A piece of the reform puzzle helps principals.

This fall, Paul Vallas, CEO of the School District of Philadelphia, gave the principals of some of the area's most challenged high schools help to meet the standards he and the School Reform Commission have set for the district. The public schools were in dire straits two years ago. The help comes in the form of local management officers, who will take on non-academic responsibilities, giving the principals more time to focus on education.

"The LMOs are just one piece of an even bigger piece, which is part of a bigger puzzle," says Amy Guerin, a spokeswoman for the district, referring to Vallas' overall plan to restructure and improve the district.

For example, a sweeping curriculum and instruction reform plan is underway. A new standardized curriculum for pre-K through ninth grade was rolled out this fall. And since the success of the new curriculum, as well as efforts to raise standardized test scores, hinges on having motivated teachers, the district is investing more than $12 million in its recruitment and retention strategies this year. Efforts are also being made to reduce school violence.

The role of each local management officer differs according to the needs of the school, says Guerin. She explains one school might have budgeting and financial problems whole another tries to curb violence and create better discipline policies.

While it is still too early to determine the success of the LMOs, Guerin says there has been positive feedback and that principals already appreciate the support.

Kathy Christie, a vice president at the Education Commission of the States, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the idea has promise. "High school principals are expected to do such a variety of things, and even those who have assistant principals end up putting in an inordinate number of hours and many times don't have the time to dedicate to instruction."