Defining the responsibilities of principals in promoting equity: Insights from the Israeli school system.

This article examines the specific responsibilities of elementary school principals in Israel in promoting educational equity, using the framework of strong equity, which comprises four interrelated elements: redistribution, recognition, representation, and reframing. Based on interviews with 21 Jewish-sector principals, the study finds that principals engage in redistributing resources to address disparities, recognizing and valuing diverse student backgrounds, ensuring diverse representation in school decision-making, and reframing dominant perspectives such as colorblindness that may perpetuate inequity. While redistribution was the most commonly practiced responsibility, the study highlights the need for principals to also embrace recognition, representation, and reframing to achieve comprehensive equity. The findings suggest incorporating the strong equity framework into principal preparation, professional development, and evaluation to better equip school leaders in fostering equitable educational environments.