Alongside Formal Preparation: How School Leaders Learn to Lead for Racial Equity

This study, part of the fifth generation of Voices 5 – a national longitudinal research series led by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) – centered on practicing school administrators who completed endorsement or licensure programs between 2017 and 2024. The findings show that leaders made sense of race both during and beyond their preparation programs, linking it to their identities, lived experiences, and professional interactions as they deepened their understanding of racial equity leadership. This learning grows from direct experiences, professional relationships, self-directed inquiry, and district support.