Six new projects have received AERA Education Research Service Project (ERSP) awards. The ERSP program provides small grants ($1,000 to $5,000) to education researchers who offer their expertise on a pro bono basis to educational organizations, institutions, or community groups that can benefit from and express a need for their knowledge and skills. Award recipients use the grants to defray the cost of the research service they provide.
The ERSP initiative was launched in 2013 as a way of connecting education research to educational needs that exist in local communities. To date, AERA has funded more than 60 Education Research Service Projects. Brief abstracts of ERSP projects are available on the AERA website.
The following six projects received ERSP awards this year.
Exploring Food Insecurity: Engaging Alternative School Students in Youth Participatory Action Research Principal Investigators: Hannah Baggett (Auburn University) and Sean Forbes (Auburn University) Educational Entity: Opelika Learning Center
Racial Equity in Independent Schools: Examining the Relationships between School Climate, Student Engagement, & Achievement Principal Investigator: Kelly Harris (Washington University School of Medicine) Educational Entity: Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School
Supporting Quality Individual Education Program Development and Implementation in Rural East Texas Principal Investigator: Brittany Hott (Texas A&M University-Commerce) Educational Entity: Lamar County Shared Service Arrangement
A Toolkit for the Authentic Implementation of Restorative Justice Principal Investigator: Olivia Marcucci (Washington University in St. Louis) Educational Entity: Man of Valor, Inc
Enhancing Public School Leadership Capacity for Evidence-Based Decision Making Through Education Research Service Project (ERSP) Principal Investigator: Xiaoxia Newton (University of Massachusetts Lowell) Educational Entity: The Career Academy
Examining the Effectiveness of Biliterate Reading/Writing Strategies in a Two-Way Bilingual Program Principal Investigators: Ana Solano-Campos (University of Massachusetts-Boston) and Meg Burns (Lesley University) Educational Entity: Mario Umana Academy
The 2018 AERA Annual Meeting will feature a special invited poster session about the ERSP program, “Pro Bono Education Research Service Projects: AERA ERSP Initiative.” This session will take place on Saturday, April 14, at 10:35 a.m. In this session, members of the ERSP selection committee, a subcommittee of the AERA Council, will discuss the history of this initiative as a reflection of AERA’s broad commitment to using education research to serve the public good. Recent ERSP awardees will have an opportunity to present the results of their projects. In addition to showcasing recent ERSP projects, this session will provide useful information about the initiative overall. Anyone who is interested in applying for an ERSP grant is encouraged to attend this session to learn more.
The next call for Education Research Service Project proposals will be released in the fall. The submission deadline will be in December 2018.