July  2020

As part of AERA’s efforts to respond to the impact of Covid-19 and systemic racism as dual pandemics facing education contexts globally, the association invites proposals for a special cycle of the Education Research Service Projects (ERSP) program. 

ERSP connects education research with educational needs prevalent in local communities by providing small grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to support researchers who offer their pro bono expertise to educational organizations, institutions, or other community groups that have identified and expressed a need for such assistance.

Under the current circumstances, this special call seeks proposals for projects focusing on Covid-19 and systemic racism and encourages education researchers to address issues and questions related to Covid-19, systemic racism, or the intersection of the two in both formal and informal educational settings, including childcare supports, school systems, colleges and universities, and communities.

The special call is part of AERA’s efforts to address the impact of the dual pandemics on education and learning through research service. It builds upon the ERSP initiative’s broad aims to cultivate a culture of service among education researchers that responds to significant local needs, and to assist researchers in using their skills and expertise to serve the public good.

“During this extremely difficult time for school leaders, educators, and others serving the community, AERA is committed to helping education researchers leverage their expertise in ways that address these pandemics at the local level and serve the public good,” said AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine. 

AERA encourages education researchers to take innovative approaches to using their knowledge to help local communities. Projects for this special call may vary in the form, scope, and nature of the research expertise being provided. Some project examples include:

• Conducting research or needs assessments related to the impact of Covid-19 on priorities and practices in an educational organization or setting
•  Designing, developing, or implementing an evaluation study of a newly instituted or planned set of organizational changes related to Covid-19 or efforts to address systemic racism
• Undertaking surveys or focus groups to help with strategic planning; or providing research literature syntheses or briefings on anti-racist curriculum development or other topics related to the dual pandemics and centrally relevant to the activities of the educational entity in question
• Using extant data (e.g., a Statewide Longitudinal Data System or the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) to assist an educational institution in responsive programming or planning

Applications should be submitted to edresearch@aera.net. The submission deadline is August 31, 2020, 11:59 pm PDT.