The School Leadership Review is a nationally refereed journal sponsored and published by the Texas Council of Professors of Educational Administration and is designed to offer a publishing opportunity to professors of educational leadership across the country on topics related to school administration.

School Leadership Review is published twice annually. The fall edition is general topics publication. Manuscripts for fall publication will be considered until September 1 each year.

The Spring issue is a themed issue that coincides with the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) Mid-Winter Conference. Manuscripts for the spring publication will be considered until March 1 each year.

The theme for the Spring/Summer 2026 issue is Beyond The Expected: Redefining Excellence .

School Leadership Review (SLR) invites empirical research manuscripts for the Spring 2026 issue focused on Beyond the Expected: Redefining Excellence. We seek data-driven studies that examine how school leaders and leadership preparation programs are redefining excellence through innovation, equity, and transformative practice.

Scope & Topic Areas (Empirical Studies Only)

Redefining Student Success: Quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods studies on achievement, belonging, and postsecondary readiness.
Instructional Leadership: Evidence of practices that improve teaching and learning beyond test scores.
Equity as Excellence: Leadership efforts addressing systemic inequities and closing opportunity gaps for marginalized populations.
Leadership Preparation & Development: Analyses of innovative approaches that build resilience and adaptive expertise.
Teacher & Leader Well-Being: Studies linking leadership practices to retention, morale, and professional growth.
Policy & Accountability: Research on how leadership responds to or shapes policy to transform measures of excellence.

Submission Guidelines

Manuscript type: Empirical research only (original data; quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods).
Length: 5,000–7,000 words (inclusive of references, tables, and figures).
Style: APA 7th edition.
Review: Double-blind peer review.
Practice relevance: Include explicit implications for school leadership practice and/or preparation programs.

How to Submit

Submit manuscripts electronically via the SLR portal: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/slr

Questions about the theme or submission process? Contact the Editorial Team at: slr@sfasu.edu

This issue of School Leadership Review will showcase empirical research that moves the field of educational leadership beyond the expected toward a reimagined vision of excellence.

Follow 7th edition of APA Publication Manual for style and reporting standards for findings. See Manuscript Preparation Guidelines for details.

Current Issue: Volume 20, Issue 1 (2025) 2025 Continuing A Legacy of Leadership

The theme for 2025 issue is "Continuing A Legacy of Leadership." Education has always been a cornerstone of progress and prosperity in any society. For decades, visionary leaders have shaped the educational systems in ways that have empowered generations of students to achieve success and contribute meaningfully to their communities. The legacy of educational leadership is one of commitment, innovation, and advocacy. However, the work is far from complete. As we face new challenges—technological advances, shifting demographics, and the growing demand for equity—it is essential to continue this legacy, adapting to new realities while remaining grounded in the fundamental principles that have long guided the pursuit of educational excellence. In addition to some of the most recent research on educational leadership topics that will inform aspiring and current leaders of impactful leadership practices that foster continuous improvement, prioritization of the well-being of students and staff and embracing innovation while staying true to core educational values, we also include a homage to our 2025 Outstanding Dissertation of the Year award winner and research on the preparation of educational leaders. We hope you find this issue informative as you continue your work towards creating a legacy of exemplary leadership.