July 2015

On July 15–17, AERA held a research-intensive conference on “Advancing Knowledge and Building Capacity for Early Childhood Research: Creating Synergies Among Segregated Scholarly Communities.” The conference brought together more than 20 accomplished scholars whose research interests span fields and disciplines engaged in early child development and early education research. The meeting was held at the AERA headquarters in Washington, D.C.  

The conference aimed at examining the state of the knowledge, identifying critical research areas, considering promising research designs and methodologies, and assessing capacity-building needs and potential approaches to innovative collaborations. Plenaries and breakout sessions fostered candid analysis and exchange by all participants. Throughout the conference, participants explored the state of early childhood research and links to policy and practice, as well as the interplay of the two.

The conference was planned and co-chaired by Beth Graue, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Felice Levine, AERA executive director; Kathy Nakagawa, Arizona State University and vice president of AERA Division E; and Sharon Ryan, Rutgers University.

AERA will hold a symposium on this topic at the 2016 AERA Annual Meeting. It is also anticipated that this research conference will yield an agenda-setting report.

Conference participants included:

• W. Steven Barnett, National Institute for Early Education Research, Rutgers University
• Margaret R. (Peg) Burchinal, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Deborah J. Cassidy, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
• Robert Crosnoe, University of Texas, Austin
• Stephanie M. Curenton, Rutgers University
• Greg J. Duncan, University of California, Irvine
• Megan Franke, University of California, Los Angeles
• Vivian L. Gadsden, University of Pennsylvania
• Susan Grieshaber, Monash University
• Kristie Kauerz, University of Washington
• Gail M. Mulligan, National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences (observer)
• Amy Parks, Michigan State University
• Mary Eunice Romero-Little, Arizona State University
• Deborah J. Stipek, Stanford University
• Joseph J. Tobin, University of Georgia
• Anita Wager, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Adam Winsler, George Mason University