Professor Portelli’s main research and teaching interests are in philosophy of education and educational leadership and policy. More specifically his interests include:
- educational policy analysis;
- philosophy of education;
- politics of education;
- educational leadership;
- quality assurance and higher education;
- student engagement and student success;
- equity in educational leadership and policy;
- critical-democratic education and leadership;
- students ‘at risk’ and the critique of deficit mentality;
- the curriculum of life and teaching controversial issues in schools;
- ethical issues in educational leadership.