AN ANALYSIS OF POLICY AND PRACTICES IN PREPARING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE LEADERS

Abstract

University principal preparation programs develop school leaders entering into diverse and complex schools. This record of study is an examination of practices and policies implemented by university programs to prepare school leaders for culturally responsive leadership. It includes three journal-ready articles. The first journal-ready article was a systematic review of literature related to the practices of preparing pre-service and in-service school leaders for culturally responsive leadership. The second journal-ready article was a multiple case study of five university principal preparation programs’ practices for preparing culturally responsive leaders. The third journal-ready article was a policy brief that included results from both studies as well as recommendations for policy makers, program developers, and researchers. Findings indicated the literature on culturally responsive leadership preparation is limited. From the literature and case studies, I found university programs represent a broad approach to culturally responsive leadership development. Program developers consider culturally responsive leadership cultivation through district partnerships, cohort models, faculty and student recruitment approaches, and the scope of program curriculum. The overall findings of this program of study offer insight to program developers and policy makers towards enhancing the practices and policies for preparing school leaders who are trained and effective culturally responsive leaders.