The Math and Science Leadership Academy in Denver, which opened in 2009, has an MOU with the teachers union, through the district school board, to have a lead teacher instead of a principal. Denver Public Schools also, specifically for MSLA, requested and received a waiver from the state of Colorado so the lead teacher has autonomy to manage the school, deal with suspensions, and do teacher evaluations. De facto the lead teacher approves decisions made collectively by MSLA teachers.

Since MSLA opened, Colorado enacted the Innovation Schools Act of 2008. The Act allows a public school or group of public schools to submit an innovation plan to its school district board of education to implement innovations that "result in improved student outcomes". Once approved, school district boards of education must submit the innovation plans and waiver requests to the Colorado State Board of Education for ratification.