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AERA Highlights

November 2025

November 2025
AERA News
Registration for the 2026 AERA Annual Meeting Opens in December AERA is gearing up for the 2026 Annual Meeting, April 8–12 in Los Angeles. Read more
*James A. Banks Delivers 2025 Brown* Lecture** James A. Banks delivered the 2025 Annual Brown Lecture in Education Research, “Rethinking Brown When Diversity and Equity Are Imperiled and Democracy Is Fragile,” on October 23 to a small in-person audience at the Dr. Felice J. Levine Convening Center in Washington, D.C., and a virtual audience of nearly 1,500 viewers, including over 120 watch parties. Read more
AERA Past President W. James Popham Dies Renowned education scholar and AERA Past President W. James “Jim” Popham passed away on July 16 at the age of 94. Read more
AERA Calls for Support of 2026 Annual Meeting Graduate Student Assistance Fund 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
WERA Celebrates 15th Anniversary at Focal Meeting in Brazil The World Education Research Association convened its 2025 Focal Meeting in João Pessoa, Brazil, October 26–30. Read more
AERA Member Hirokazu Yoshikawa Awarded the 2025 Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize AERA member Hirokazu Yoshikawa has been awarded the 2025 Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize for his outstanding contributions to early childhood development. Read more
Research Policy and Funding News
Federal Government Shutdown Ends, Funding and Data Activities Resume After 43 days, the federal government shutdown ended on November 12 with President Trump signing the FY 2026 appropriations agreement into law. Read more
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Bringing Research Forward
Read – AERA Executive Director Tabbye Chavous published an opinion piece in The Hill, titled “For Education Researchers, Real-World Solutions Matter Most.” She emphasized the importance of rigorous, equity-focused education research and the field’s commitment to producing scholarship that informs practice and policy.
Read – In Inside Higher Ed, Chavous discussed cuts at the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), noting that “severe staff shortages continue to threaten data quality, slow research progress, and undermine public trust.”
Read – In Education Week, Chavous highlighted the need for the U.S. Department of Education to commit resources to IES, stating that “now is the time for the department to make meaningful investments in IES’s staffing and infrastructure as part of any reform effort.”
Read – An NPR piece on a new Review of Educational Research article reports that social-emotional learning can boost grades and test scores. Related: Full RER article \| AERA news release
Watch – James Banks (University of Washington, Seattle) delivered the 2025 Brown Lecture, titled “Rethinking Brown When Diversity and Equity Are Imperiled and Democracy Is Fragile,” followed by discussion forum and Q&A.
Watch – Peter Riley Bahr (Strada Institute for the Future of Work) shares major findings and implications from the new EEPA article “Labor Market Returns to Community College Noncredit Occupational Education.” Related: Full EEPA article \| AERA news release
AERA Calls
2026 AERA Committee Nominations—Deadline: November 28 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 Review of Educational Research Volumes 97–99 (2027–2029)—Deadline for Applications: March 2, 2026
Shaping Federal Research Policy Recent comments and letters from AERA influencing federal research policy.
Census Project Letter on Finalizing FY 2026 Appropriations (October 30) AERA joined fellow Census Project members in urging Congress to provide the Census Bureau at least $1.6765 billion in the final FY 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill and to strike Section 605, a provision in the House bill that would undermine quality and availability of census survey data, especially for small populations and geographic areas. Community Letter on NSF SBE Directorate in FY 2026 Appropriations (November 6) AERA was among 59 organizations on a letter to Congress urging the National Science Foundation be funded at the highest level possible in the FY 2026 appropriations process and encouraged adoption of Senate report language directing sustained funding for the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) Directorate.
Contribute to Federal Research and Data Policy AERA members are encouraged to submit research- and data-informed comments on the following open opportunities.
Proposed Updates to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)—Comments Due: December 15 Following the initial 60-day comment period (see AERA comments), the Department of Education has opened an additional 30-day period for public input on a proposed “Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement” to IPEDS. Learn more and comment. Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS 2027) Main Study International Questionnaire—Comments Due: January 12, 2026 The Department of Education has opened 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.
In Memoriam
Mark Helmsing (1982-2025) Mark Helmsing, 43, died on October 5. He was an assistant professor at George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development. Helmsing was an active AERA member, serving in multiple roles within Division B—Curriculum Studies, the Social Studies Research SIG, and the Graduate Student Council. Read more Daniel Moraguez (1976-2025) Daniel Moraguez died in October. He was an assistant professor of educational leadership and administration at Florida State University. Moraguez held leadership positions in the Access, Detracking, and Tracking SIG and the Leadership for Social Justice SIG. Read more
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 Recent media coverage of AERA and AERA-published research
More Than Ever, Federal Support for Ed Research Matters Real Clear Education, November 17 Opinion: For education researchers, real-world solutions matter most The Hill, November 13 Social-Emotional Learning Can Boost Student Achievement. New Data Says By How Much. EdSurge, October 30 Why Building Emotional Intelligence in Classrooms Might Be the Key to Better Grades Parents, October 30 Research shows social-emotional learning can boost grades and test scores NPR, October 23 How rare are colleges that enroll and graduate high shares of Pell Grant students? Higher Ed Dive, October 22 Social-Emotional Learning Linked to Higher Math and Reading Test Scores Education Week, October 21 What Should Research at the Ed. Dept. Look Like? The Field Weighs In Education Week, October 21 Trump Gutted the Institute of Education Sciences. Its Renewal Is in Doubt. Inside Higher Ed, October 21
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: Marla Koenigsknecht, Tony Pals, Christy Talbot