March 2026

AERA News

AERA President Maisha Winn on What to Expect at AERA 2026
Dear Colleagues, it is my sincere hope that you will join our research community from April 8 to 12 in Los Angeles, California, where we will engage with the theme, “Unforgetting Histories. Imagining Futures: Constructing a New Vision for Education Research.” Read more

AERA–NSF Grants Program Announces New Award Recipients
The AERA–NSF Grants Program has announced a new cohort of Dissertation and Research Grant recipients, supporting studies that leverage large-scale federal, district, and State Longitudinal Data System data to advance education research. Read more

First-of-Its-Kind Volume Reframes the Special Education Workforce Crisis
AERA’s newest volume, Transforming the Special Education Workforce: Research and Complex Systems Perspectives, is the first work to unify special education workforce recruitment, preparation, retention, and leadership within a whole-systems thinking framework. Read more

AERA and The 74 Explore AI in Assessment with Leading Scholars
On March 18, AERA and The 74 partnered to host a free public webinar on artificial intelligence in student assessment. Read more

At the 2026 Annual Meeting

A Message from AERA Executive Director Tabbye Chavous – Ensuring a Safe and Welcoming Annual Meeting 
Dear AERA Members and Friends, we are excited to welcome scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and others from around the world to the 2026 AERA Annual Meeting, April 8–12, in Los Angeles. Read more

Research and Science Policy Forum at AERA 2026 to Highlight Key Issues and Agencies
The Research and Science Policy Forum at the AERA 2026 Annual Meeting will convene leading voices from federal research agencies, academia, and the policy community to examine pressing issues at the intersection of education research and science policy. Read more

Connect with Journal Editors at the Annual Meeting
At the 2026 AERA Annual Meeting, attendees can join Meet the Editors sessions (formerly known as Journal Talks) to connect with editors from AERA journals and other publishers. Read more

Ombuds Program Offers Confidential Support for AERA 2026 Attendees
AERA will offer its Ombuds Program as part of the 2026 Annual Meeting, supporting a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment for all participants. Read more

Visit the AERA Booth in Los Angeles! Share your story at the AERA Member Voices video station or refresh your look at the Headshot Lounge—both available during exhibit hours.

Want to advertise in AERA Highlights? Learn more

Research Policy and Funding News

Reimagining IES Report Offers Recommendations for “Relevance and Renewal”
In February, the Department of Education released Reimagining the Institute of Education Sciences: A Strategy for Relevance and Renewal. Read more

NSF Updates: Reorganization of Directorates, NSB Meeting, Director Nomination
In February, the National Science Foundation directorates—including the STEM Education Directorate—shared updates on their reorganizations, aligned with NSF’s broader agency-wide restructuring. Read more

AERA Calls

Call for Proposals: Review of Research in Education Volume 51 (2027) on Reviews of Racialization Processes and Racism–Proposals due April 1

Call for Abstracts: AERA Open Special Topic on Reframing School Attendance: Moving Quickly Toward Positive, Strengths-Based Approaches–Abstracts due April 1

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

Bringing Research Forward

Watch: AI in Student Assessment: Promise, Potential, and Risks, an AERA-The 74 public webinar featuring prominent education researchers in conversation with a veteran education reporter.

Contribute to Federal Research and Data Policy

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

NAEP Civics Assessment Framework Review – Comments Due: March 27, 5:00 pm ET
The National Assessment Governing Board is seeking public comment as it begins a preliminary review of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Civics Assessment framework. Input is requested on whether the framework should be updated, the rationale for any revisions, and what updates should include. Submit comments to nagb@ed.gov with the subject line “NAEP Civics Framework.”

National Special Education Spending Study – Comments Due: March 30
The National Center for Education Statistics has proposed a new data collection to estimate spending on special education services for students with disabilities, including overall expenditures and by disability category across states, districts, and schools. Learn more and submit comments.

GSA Proposed Updates to Pre-Award Registration Requirements – Comments Due: March 30
The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing updates to Financial Assistance General Representations and Certifications to align with current executive branch guidance, including Department of Justice guidance on unlawful discrimination and Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity. Learn more and submit comments.

Shaping Federal Research Policy

Recent comments and letters from AERA influencing federal research policy.

AERA Comments on Department of Education NPRM on Student Loans (March 2)
In response to proposed regulatory updates, AERA urged the Department to include all graduate education degrees—including Ph.D. and Ed.D. programs—within the definition of “professional degree” tied to “professional student” status.

Endorsement of American Statistical Association Letter on Federal Statistical Agency Staff Designation (March 2)
AERA joined the American Statistical Association and 26 organizations in urging House and Senate appropriators to include FY 2027 language exempting federal statistical agency staff from Schedule Policy/Career classification. AERA had previously raised this concern in comments on a draft rule proposed by the Office of Personnel Management in June 2025.

Multi-Signatory Letter on OPRE Restructuring (February 23)
AERA joined 130 organizations in calling on HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to halt the restructuring and effective dismantling of the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) within the Administration for Children and Families.

AERA has also joined several coalition efforts to advance robust funding for federal research and statistical agencies in FY 2027:

• Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research — $51.3 billion for the National Institutes of Health
• Coalition for National Science Funding — $9.9 billion for the National Science Foundation
• Friends of the Institute of Education Sciences — $900 million for the Institute of Education Sciences (IES)

In Memoriam

AERA members who have recently passed away

^♦Aimée Dorr (1942 – 2026)
Aimée Dorr, 83, died on January 25. She was Provost of the University of California and dean of the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. She was an AERA Fellow. Read more

Christopher Knapper (1940 – 2026)
Christopher Knapper, 85, died on March 4. He was founding director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Queen’s University. Read more

^♦AERA Fellow

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 AI Could Help or Hurt Student Testing
Education Week, March 23

Two Women Scholars Who Will Lead National Educational Organizations
Women in Academia Report, March 18

Rochester City School District renews initiative to hire more educators of color
WXXI News, March 11

Summer in St. Louis
The St. Louis American, March 8

St. Paul Public Schools to name interim board member Tuesday
Twin Cities Pioneer Press, March 8

Charlottesville city manager says city must raise taxes in part to cover raises for school support staff
Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 6

Opinion: My school is grading me with AI. It got my grade wrong.
CT Mirror, March 5

Extraordinary Higher Education Scholar to Lead World’s Largest Education Research Association
Inside Higher Ed, March 5

Dr. Sylvia Hurtado Voted AERA President-Elect
The EDU Ledger, March 3

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, Audrey Poe, Rebecca Rock, Christy Talbot, George Wimberly