Contested Commitments: A Content Analysis of Equity Policies Framing Leadership Diversity Goals Despite Backlash

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 9:45 am - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Policy in Action: Professional Learning, Coaching Models, and Equity Commitments

Abstract

Although public schools are increasingly racially diverse, school leadership remains overwhelmingly white, a pattern rooted in the historical exclusion of leaders of color since desegregation. In response to racial unrest and persistent inequities, many districts adopted equity policies aimed at addressing underrepresentation in leadership. This study uses qualitative content analysis to examine how 745 school districts (flagged by a conservative group for their DEI efforts) use policy language to address leadership diversity. Preliminary findings indicate that districts are advancing equity through targeted recruitment, internal development, and legal and moral justification. Amid growing anti-DEI backlash, this research illustrates how equity remains a legal, strategic, and values-driven priority. The study informs efforts to restore and reimagine public education through more inclusive leadership pipelines.

Authors

• Kimberly Clarida, Michigan State University

• Kait Ogden, University of Texas at Austin

• Ja'Miya Grace, Michigan State University