Pulling Back the Curtain on Moral Reasoning and Ethical Leadership Development for K–12 School Leaders

Using the Defining Issues Test of moral reasoning, researchers gathered pre- and posttest data from educational leadership students (N = 52) and confidence levels in enacting ethical school leadership, before and after completing a master’s degree program in educational leadership. On a 95-point scale, pretest, postconventional moral reasoning abilities were calculated at M = 33.57. Significantly higher posttest, postconventional moral reasoning (M = 38.80) was determined. Respondent confidence levels in enacting ethical leadership also increased dramatically. Moral reasoning abilities measured far lower than would be expected compared with national norms of adults who had achieved similar levels of education in other professional areas.