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This systematic review sought to expand our knowledge of the increasing research studies focusing on the empirical link between school leadership and student achievement. Using five different data sources (Scopus, WoS, ERIC, Google Scholar, and Retrospective Reference Harvesting Procedure), we created a data set of 144 journal articles. Descriptive analysis of bibliographic data and content analysis of full texts were employed in the review process. The results revealed instructional leadership as the most frequently used school leadership model in the relevant research. There has been a growing tendency to use the direct effect model with the increase in the studies from non-English speaking western societies. Indeed, the use of rational and organizational variables has dominated the mediating effect studies, while moderating effect studies as well as exploratory and explanatory type of studies have not received much attention. Based on these results, a framework representing the broader picture of the current research on the relationship between school leadership and student learning is provided. In addition, several recommendations were made, aiming to build the research capacity in furthering our understanding of how school leadership practices impact student learning and achievement.

Given the growing concerns regarding the education of the rapidly increasing refugee children population around the world and the scholarly attention towards refugee education contexts in educational leadership and policy fields in recent years, we were urged to locate and understand the research contribution to the relevant knowledge base. This study, therefore, aims to systematically review the existing educational leadership and policy literature in relation to K-12 education of refugee children to demonstrate the overall trends of the related studies in terms of context (year, country, school level, and journal outlets), type of study, methodology, and topical focus. We conducted a systematic review of literature by following the steps identified by PRISMA ("Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses"), including the processes regarding data sources, search, data collection, eligibility criteria, data selection, and data analysis. Overall, the results of our review suggest that educational policies addressing the refugee children and educational contexts shape the implementations of educational leaders and consequently the refugee students' opportunities in schools. The results and implications for future research are discussed in more detail based on the results of the review.