Do Good Principals Do Bad Things? Examining Bounds Of Ethical Behavior In The Context Of High-Stakes Accountability

Cheating and unethical behavior in the context of high-stakes accountability has been well documented. Recently, the US Department of Education found Texas schools failing to comply with the nation’s special education law as a result of a state accountability policy. This article examines how a group of principals recognized for their effectiveness in special education (a) understood the state policy and (b) the social and psychological forces that influenced their leadership. Bounded ethicality and behavioral ethics research are used as a theoretical model to examine principal perceptions and actions. Conclusions inform next generation research and new approaches to leadership development.