This collection of essays focuses on the intersection between equity and excellence in educational leadership and urges a reconceptualization that gives appropriate consideration to women and ethnic and racial minorities. The book begins with an introductory chapter, entitled "Equity and Excellence in Educational Leadership: A Necessary Nexus," by Martha M. McCarthy and L. Dean Webb. The succeeding chapters are divided into four sections. Section I, "Leadership and Equity," includes the following chapters: (1) "Introduction: Lessons from the Past and Directions for the Future" (James E. Anderson); (2) "Equity and the Educational Practitioner: A Leadership Model" (Barbara A. Sizemore); (3) "Facilitating Equity through the School Superintendency" (J. Jerome Harris and Mae E. Kendall); and (4) "The Quest for Equity: Imperatives for Administrators in Higher Education" (Hugh J. Scott). Section II, "Educational Environments That Promote Equity," contains the following chapters: (1) "Introduction: Research on Equity in Learning Environments" (Judith Walker de Felix); (2) "Productivity and Equity" (Herbert J. Walberg); (3) "Compassion and Equity: Culture and English Literacy for Linguistic Minority Children" (Henry J. Trueba); and (4) "Classroom Language Use and Educational Equity: Toward Interactive Pedagogy" (Christian Faltis). Section III, "Instruction That Enhances Equity," consists of: (1) "Introduction: Classroom Instruction That Enhances Equity" (Hersholt C. Waxman); (2) "Programs That Promote Educational Equity" (Margaret Wang); (3) "Instructional Organizational Practices That Affect Equity" (Adam Gamoran); (4) "Linguistic and Cultural Influences on Classroom Instruction" (Yolanda N. Padron and Stephanie L. Knight); and (5) "Teacher Effectiveness Research and Equity Issues" (Jane A. Stallings and Jane McCarthy). Section IV, "Educational Preparation for Equity," has the following chapters: (1) "Introduction: The Challenge of Preparing for Equity" (H. Prentice Baptiste, Jr.); (2) "Administrative Preparation for Equity" (Charol Shakeshaft); (3) "Teacher Preparation for Equity" (Geneva Gay); (4) "Teacher Education That Enhances Equity" (James B. Boyer); and (5) "Educating Society for Equity" (Carlos E. Cortes). Each chapter includes a list of references. Biographical information on contributing authors is appended. (AF)