Whereas in the past principals of poorly performing schools were simply reassigned to other schools, now they are being assigned other duties, in many cases ones with less prestige and less salary. Last year in North Carolina principals of struggling schools were threatened with suspension. In Cincinnati, a principal's pay is now linked to school test results. In Kentucky, educators receive additional funding when students achieve, but face very close scrutiny if they do not. In such an extremely pressurized atmosphere, low morale can be a problem.
Some principals choose to retire rather than face the pressure.
A recent ETS study revealed that, not surprisingly, there is an increasing shortage of qualified administrative candidates especially in secondary schools and urban settings. Excellent administrators in the business sector can expect to pull down significant salaries and receive substantial job perks. Just as many competent people are not choosing to become teachers, many are not choosing to become principals. When an intelligent college student looks at the field of education versus other opportunities available, education is frequently not the first choice. But given the demands of the job and the salaries offered, it might be really hard for her system and others to attract and then keep those qualified candidates.