There are many ways in which we are guided in our jobs. I hope we all start with a sense of morality and ethics as we go about our day. Undoubtedly, one of the biggest influencers on workplace behavior, especially in public education, is the law. 

What is written in the school code, to a large extent, drives the decisions school leaders make. 

Here’s the rub: there is a discrepancy between what is in the “school code” (Law) and what people think is in the school code (Lore).

For example, in Pennsylvania, a school district does not have to have classes called “biology” or “algebra.” A school only has to “cover” the approved standards as set out by the State. Many school leaders believe the State requires courses, Carnegie units, and so forth. In Pennsylvania, that is not true…thus, it is lore.

Your local school district policy may require credits, including three courses of Math, four courses of English, and all of the rest, but PDE does not require them.

Too many times, school leaders use lore to place a strait jacket on the possibilities of creating great learning experiences for kids. In many cases, what is considered law is simply lore.

My challenge to you this week is this: examine what you know to be “law” and find out if it really is. You may discover you have been living by lore!

Lore and Leadership

The goal here is not to disregard the importance of a structured curriculum or to undermine the value of traditional subjects. Instead, it’s an invitation to question and rethink how we achieve educational outcomes. Can we fulfill state standards in ways that are more aligned with the needs and interests of our students? Are there innovative approaches that could replace or augment traditional methods, thereby enriching the educational experience?

Embracing this challenge requires courage and a willingness to step away from the comfort of “how things have always been done.” It calls for a leadership style that is not just visionary but also grounded in a deep understanding of the legal and regulatory framework. By distinguishing between law and lore, school leaders can pave the way for educational practices that are not only compliant but also imaginative and impactful.

Let this be a call to action for all innovative school leaders: to explore, to question, and ultimately, to transform. The journey from lore to law is not just about compliance; it’s about freeing our schools to become places of creativity and learning.