A Review of Evidence about Equitable School Leadership

Bibliographic Data

ID22047335
AuthorsKenneth Leithwood (0000-0002-8053-7347, University of Toronto, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume11
Issue8
Pages377
Publication date2021-07-23
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEducation Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2227-7102 • E-ISSN: 2227-7102
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/educsci11080377
OpenAlexW3183585092
LanguageEN
Citations received62
References cited96

This paper reviews the results of 63 empirical studies and reviews of research in order to identify those school leadership practices and dispositions likely to help improve equitable school conditions and outcomes for diverse and traditionally underserved students. Guided by a well-developed framework of successful school leadership, results indicate that most of the practices and dispositions in the framework can be enacted in ways that contribute to more equitable conditions and outcomes for students. A handful of these practices and dispositions appear to make an especially significant contribution to the development of more equitable schools as well as several additional practices and dispositions associated with equitable leadership merit mastery by equitably-oriented leaders. Among the especially significant practices are building productive partnerships among parents, schools, and the larger community as well as encouraging teachers to engage in forms of instruction with all students that are both ambitious and culturally responsive. Leaders are likely to be more effective when they adopt a critical perspective on the policies, practices, and procedures in their schools and develop a deep understanding of the cultures, norms, values, and expectations of the students’ families. The paper concludes with implications for practice and future research

Best practice · Business · Educational leadership · Empirical research · Instructional leadership · Pedagogy · Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Parental Involvement in Education · Psychology · School Choice and Performance · Teacher Education and Leadership Studies

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Open DOIOpen Access