Abstract

MENTINI, Laura. Enacting accountability reforms in Brazil: the mediating role of school leadership. Práxis Educativa [online]. 2023, vol.18, e20774.  Epub Jan 20, 2023. ISSN 1809-4309.  https://doi.org/10.5212/praxeduc.v.18.20774.006.

This article aims to analyse the role of school leaders in mediating education accountability policies in Brazil. The study is framed by a sense-making and contingent leadership framework and is guided by a ‘realist evaluation’ methodological approach. The qualitative research conducted in four schools in Belo Horizonte shows that school leaders play a substantial role in mediating how school accountability reforms are received. They enact different roles, behaviours and practices, shaped by the sense-making and perception of accountability reforms and dependent upon three main contingent factors: leaders’ positional power and gender, socio-economic school composition and schools’ administrative dependency.

Keywords : School leadership; Brazil; Test-based accountability policy..

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