April 2026
The 2026 Annual Meeting brought together more than 15,000 education researchers and other scholars, policy leaders, practitioners, and students in Los Angeles, California, April 8–12, for five days of scholarly exchange, networking, and professional development. Attendees came from 76 countries around the world.
Centered on the theme “Unforgetting Histories and Imagining Futures: Constructing a New Vision for Education Research," the program included presidential sessions, invited lectures, symposia, poster sessions, and e-Lightning Ed-Talks showcasing high-quality education research addressing issues in education practice and policy.
“The 2026 Annual Meeting gave us the opportunity to exchange cutting-edge research across disciplines and also to connect and enjoy being together as a community,” said AERA Executive Director Tabbye Chavous. “At a time when education research is under pressure, this meeting underscored a clear message: Research matters, and so does investing in the next generation. AERA is grateful to everyone who contributed to making this year’s conference such a success.”
Highlights from Los Angeles included AERA 2025–2026 President Maisha T. Winn’s Presidential Address, titled “The Future Is Here: Historical Signals in Education Research.” In her lecture, Winn examined how historical inquiry can help orient collective futures, noting that primary sources can serve as “maps” for the future and emphasizing scholars’ responsibility to engage deeply with historical context in education research. The lecture was preceded and followed by a performance from the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, conducted by Charles “Chuckie” Dickerson.
The Opening Plenary featured a panel of leading scholars whose work centers history, community, and educational justice. Panelists included Daniel Solorzano (University of California, Los Angeles), Jarvis R. Givens (Harvard University), Stacey J. Lee (University of Wisconsin–Madison), Veronica Terriquez (University of California, Los Angeles), and Amanda R. Tachine (University of Oregon). Moderated by President Winn, the discussion explored history’s importance in shaping education and the scholars’ own work.
The Presidential Sessions brought together leading scholars and thought leaders to engage attendees on pressing and cross-cutting issues in education research, including equity, historical inquiry, and the future directions of the field. Designed to connect the Annual Meeting theme to contemporary challenges, the sessions emphasized the role of research in addressing systemic inequities, informing policy and practice, and advancing more just and inclusive educational futures. One session blended music and scholarly reflection, featuring eight prominent scholars in paired conversations, with AERA Past President Shaun Harper curating songs selected by each duo to connect musical themes to pivotal career moments, major research contributions, and their broader philosophies of education and education research.
AERA’s 2026 award winners were honored at the Awards Luncheon and Ceremony. Among the recipients honored were Vivian Gadsden (University of Pennsylvania), who received both the Distinguished Contributions to Research in Education and the inaugural Dr. Felice J. Levine Distinguished Contributions to Mentoring in Research and Leadership Award; James L. Moore, III (National Science Foundation/Ohio State University), recipient of the Distinguished Public Service Award; and Cati de los Rios (University of California, Berkeley), who received the Early Career Award. Winn also presented Presidential Citations to Micia Mosely (Black Teacher Project) and Sarah Warshauer Freedman (University of California, Berkeley).
The Research and Science Policy Forum featured 12 sessions on future research directions and their connections to policy and practice, along with opportunities to engage with National Science Foundation leadership.
The Annual Meeting continued several expanded and returning features. The e-Lightning Ed-Talks—first introduced in 2024 in Philadelphia, expanded to two central stages in 2025, and three stages in 2026—featured over 400 brief, rapid-fire presentations from selected poster submissions.
The Graduate Student Research-in-Progress Roundtable Series also returned, providing graduate students an opportunity to share and receive feedback on work in progress. The series is designed for students actively engaged in research who are not yet ready to submit a full annual meeting paper.
The Closing Ceremony on April 12 marked the official presidential transition, as Winn passed the gavel to 2026–2027 President Jerome E. Morris.
Videos from major sessions will be posted on the AERA website and YouTube channel in May.