July 2026

AERA News

AERA Urges Protections for Research in Federal Grantmaking
AERA submitted comments urging the White House Office of Management and Budget to withdraw its proposed Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance. Read more

AERA Continues Fight Against NSF Grant Terminations
AERA continues its efforts to protect federally supported education research and the integrity of the scientific enterprise following the National Science Foundation's termination of research grants and changes in agency priorities. Read more

Council Approves Two New SIGs and Additional Support Measures
In recent months, AERA Council approved two new special interest groups and several additional measures to strengthen support for AERA’s SIG community. Read more

New Editors Named for Review of Educational Research
AERA has appointed Odis Johnson, Jr., Norma L. Day-Vines, Rebecca A. Cruz, Amanda Neitzel, and Meagan Call-Cummings, all of Johns Hopkins University, as the new co-editors of Review of Educational Research for 2027–2029. Read more

Register Now for July STEM Education Data Webinars
AERA and the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research will host two free July workshops in the Partnership for Expanding Education Research in STEM Series in STEM Data and Data Use, highlighting longitudinal datasets and data systems that can support STEM education research. Read more

2027 AERA Award Nominations Now Open—Submit by October 14
AERA nominations for the 2027 AERA Awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to education research, public service, mentoring, scholarship, and research communication. Read more

AERA Journals Maintain Strong Standing in 2026 Journal Citation Reports
AERA journals continued to rank among the leading publications in education research in the 2026 Journal Citation Reports, with six journals placing among the top 105 of the 760 peer-reviewed journals worldwide included in the “Education and Educational Research” category. Read more

The countdown is on! The 2027 AERA Annual Meeting Call for Submissions deadline is July 24 at 11:59 pm PT.

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AERA Fellows Corner

A forum for AERA Fellows to share timely insights and perspectives.

Julie Posselt – Correction, Bubble, or Existential Crisis: Is this the End of Graduate Education as We Know It? 
Graduate education in the United States is now pursued by more than a third of those who obtain bachelor’s degrees, and the sector is undergoing a period of significant structural change. Read more

AERA Nominations Sought

AERA Nominating Committee Seeks Recommendations for 2027 AERA-Wide Elected Officers—Deadline: September 9
The AERA Nominating Committee seeks recommendations of candidates for AERA-wide offices. Read more

AERA Hiring Announcements

AERA seeks a highly skilled, strategic, and mission-driven Chief of Staff to join the Executive Director’s Office.

AERA is hiring a Publications Associate to contribute to the operations and planning of the association’s publications program.

AERA Calls

2027 Annual Meeting Papers and Sessions—Submissions due July 24

2027 AERA Award Nominations—Submissions due October 14

Call for Papers: AERA Open Special Topic on Educational Data Science: Volume II—Papers due November 1

Contribute to Federal Research and Data Policy

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

NIH RFI on Limiting Simultaneous Research Grants per Principal Investigator (Comments Due August 3)
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) seeks input on a proposed policy to cap the number of research grants an individual may hold as a principal investigator or multi-principal investigator.

NIH RFI on Measuring and Rewarding Scientific Impact (Comments Due August 19)
NIH is requesting feedback on metrics to define “specific, measurable indicators and incentives that reflect the collaborative, rigorous, and mission-driven nature of modern biomedical science,” aligned with NIH’s Replication and Reproducibility Initiative and NIH's Plan to Drive Gold Standard Science.

NSF Proposal/Award Information Guidance on Financial Assistance (Comments Due August 24)
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking comment on proposed Proposal/Award Information Guidance on Financial Assistance, which would replace the current Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. The draft guidance is available for review, and comments should be submitted through Regulations.gov.

Shaping Federal Research Policy

Recent comments and letters from AERA influencing federal research policy.

AERA Comment on OMB Proposed Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance (July 13)
AERA urged the White House Office of Management and Budget to withdraw its proposed Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, warning that the rule would undermine the integrity of federal scientific review, create uncertainty for researchers, and restrict the ability of education researchers to conduct and share federally funded research.

Multi-Organization Comment on OMB Proposed Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance (July 13)
AERA joined the National Academy of Education in leading a letter signed by 20 organizations urging OMB to withdraw its proposed rule, arguing that several provisions conflict with current law governing federally authorized education research.

In Memoriam

AERA members who have recently passed away

Joe B. Hansen (1939 – 2026)
Joe B. Hansen, a former vice president of Division H–Research, Evaluation, and Assessment in Schools, died recently. He retired in 2007 from Western Oregon University, where he served as an associate research professor in the teaching research division.

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

Can Ethnic Studies Bridge the Achievement Gap? San Francisco Program Shows Gains
The 74, July 14

Are We Asking the Wrong Question in the Screen Time Debate?
The 74, July 10

Marin Voice: Work to close our hidden reading gap continues
Marin Independent Journal, July 8

A community searches for answers
The St. Louis American, July 1

What Fort Worth is doing to thwart the ‘summer slide’ for elementary students
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, July 1

Anti-DEI Efforts Reshape How States Serve English Learners
Education Week, June 30

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
Contributors:  Nathan Bell, Marla Koenigsknecht, John Neikirk, Tony Pals, Christy Talbot