December 2025

AERA News

AERA Nominations Released for President-Elect, At-Large Council Members, and Other Key Offices
The AERA 2026 election will open on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, with voting to be conducted by electronic ballot. Read more

AERA Fellow Alfredo Artiles Inaugurated as President of National Academy of Education
AERA Fellow Alfredo Artiles began a four-year term as president of the National Academy of Education on November 8. Read more

AERA-NSF Dissertation Grantees Present at Fall Research Conference
From November 20-22, the AERA Grants Program, funded by the National Science Foundation, held its annual Fall Research Conference at the Dr. Felice J. Levine Convening Center at AERA in Washington, D.C. Read more

Annual Meeting News

Registration for 2026 AERA Annual Meeting Opens this Month—Countdown to Los Angeles Underway
Registration for the 2026 AERA Annual Meeting, to be held April 8–12 in Los Angeles, will open later this month. Read more

Major Sessions and Lectures to Inspire 2026 Annual Meeting Attendees
Major sessions and lectures at the 2026 Annual Meeting will spotlight timely and consequential topics for education researchers. Read more

Discover AERA’s Professional Development Lineup for 2026 Annual Meeting
The 2026 AERA Annual Meeting in Los Angeles will feature a robust lineup of 17 professional development and training courses spanning a wide range of topics in education research. Read more

Research Policy and Funding News

National Assessment Governing Board Reviews NAEP, NCES Activities, and IES Redesign
The National Assessment Governing Board, the independent, nonpartisan board responsible for setting policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress and communicating its results, held its most recent quarterly board meeting on November 20 and 21. Read more

AERA Calls

2026 AERA Annual Meeting Graduate Student Assistance Fund—Deadline for Applications: January 7, 2026

AERA Open Special Topic on Engaging and Retaining Individuals in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics–Deadline for Abstracts: February 1, 2026

2026 Brown Lecture Nominations—Deadline: February 17, 2026

Review of Educational Research Volumes 97–99 (2027–2029)–Deadline for Applications: March 2, 2026

Call for Editors: Educational Researcher Volumes 56–58 (2027–2029)–Applications due March 2, 2026

AERA is strongly encouraging members and friends of education research to join its continuing effort to expand access to the Annual Meeting for graduate students by giving to the Annual Meeting Graduate Student Assistance Fund. Read more

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Shaping Federal Research Policy

Recent comments and letters from AERA influencing federal research policy.

Friends of IES Letter on Finalizing FY 2026 Appropriations (November 24)
AERA, leading 40 organizations as part of the Friends of IES, urged House and Senate Appropriations leadership to fund the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) at the highest level possible in final FY 2026 appropriations legislation. The letter also requested language in the final conference report directing IES to restart peer review panels for FY 2025 grant competitions.

Community Letter on NSF EDU Directorate in FY 2026 Appropriations (December 1)
AERA joined 44 other organizations in urging House and Senate Appropriations Committee leadership to fund the National Science Foundation (NSF) at the highest level possible in FY 2026 appropriations, with sustained funding for the NSF STEM Education Directorate.

Endorsement of NEED Act Introduction (December 4)
AERA joined 69 other organizations in endorsing the reintroduction of the New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act, which would establish a National Center for Advanced Development in Education (NCADE) at IES and strengthen and modernize Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS).

Contribute to Federal Research and Data Policy

AERA members are encouraged to submit research- and data-informed comments on the following open opportunities.

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Request for Information on Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise – Comments Due: December 26
OSTP seeks input on priorities for strengthening the U.S. science and technology ecosystem—both to expand scientific knowledge and to improve pathways that transition discoveries into the marketplace. Learn more and comment.

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS 2027) Main Study International Questionnaire – Comments Due: January 12
The Department of Education is holding a 60-day comment period, as part of the Office of Management and Budget’s clearance process, on plans for the National Center for Education Statistics to conduct sampling, recruitment, and data collection for the TIMSS 2027 main study. Learn more and comment.

National Science Foundation (NSF) Request for Information on Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate Workforce Development Roadmap – Comments Due: January 15
NSF is seeking input on the vision, strategic goals, and investments for the NSF TIP Directorate Roadmap for Workforce Development for critical and emerging technologies. Read the directed questions and comment.

In Memoriam

Beyond AERA

Visit the Beyond AERA webpage for professional advancement opportunities from other organizations, including calls for papers and submissions, meetings and conferences, and other activities.

AERA in the News

How Trump 2.0 upended education research and statistics in one year
The Hechinger Report, December 1

Student absences spiked in California, test scores fell in Florida amid surge in US immigration enforcement
The Journalist's Resource, November 25

How Short-Term Community College Courses Help Boost Your Salary
Money, November 25

Noncredit training at community colleges linked to earnings gains
University Business, November 20

Community Colleges FAQ: Everything You Need to Know
U.S. News & World Report, November 20

Noncredit Community College Programs Yield Earnings Gains, but Outcomes Vary
Inside Higher Ed, November 20

Study: Modest earnings gains from short-term training
Community College Daily, November 18

More AERA in the News

AERA Highlights is published by the American Educational Research Association monthly to inform members and others interested in education research about the latest news and developments in AERA and in the field.

Executive Director: Tabbye Chavous
Editor: Tony Pals
Editorial and Production Team: Marla Koenigsknecht, John Neikirk, Audrey Poe
Contributors: Nathan Bell, Marla Koenigsknecht, Rebecca Rock, Christy Talbot, George Wimberly