Currently, the subordination of schools to mandates of standardization, competitiveness, and selectivity reinforces educational inequalities and widens educational gaps. This conceptual article aims to highlight the need to improve social justice in schools and describe the role of school leadership in this regard.
The article offers an analysis of three topics related to leadership for social justice: (i) the importance of equity and social justice as guiding principles for educational leadership, (ii) the type of educational leadership required to promote social justice, and (iii) educational leaders as agents of inclusion and equity, along with strategies to combat inequality.
Based on a literature review, the findings emphasize that leadership for social justice is more necessary than ever, given the increasing complexity and diversity in school contexts. They also show that social justice is linked to a more democratic, distributed, and transformational approach to school leadership. Furthermore, leaders who act as agents of change can benefit from leadership for social justice, as it provides a direction for transformation that prioritizes values such as equity, justice, commitment, and cooperation.
The article concludes by presenting some examples of change in Spain and offering recommendations for promoting social justice.