July 2026

In recent months, AERA Council approved two new special interest groups (SIGs) and several additional measures to strengthen support for AERA’s SIG community.

The new SIGs, approved in February, are Abolition and Carceral Studies in Education (SIG 191) and Immigration and Education (SIG 192). The Abolition and Carceral Studies in Education SIG seeks to uplift and center the knowledge, voices, and lived experiences of those directly impacted by carceral systems in education research and practice. The Immigration and Education SIG is dedicated to advancing rigorous, interdisciplinary education research on immigration and education while providing a scholarly home for immigration-focused education research.

Council also approved several new additional initiatives to support SIGs and their members:

• Reduced exhibit booth rates. Effective with the 2026Annual Meeting, Divisions and SIGs are eligible for exhibit booths at 50 percent of the regular base exhibitor rate. The discounted booth price includes a standard 10-by-10-foot booth, while any additional furnishings or upgrades will be available at the standard exhibitor rates.
• Expanded flexibility for job announcements. Graduate student positions, fellowships, postdoctoral appointments, and other comparable time- and term-limited positions are now exempt from the requirement that job announcements first be posted on the AERA Job Board before being shared through division, SIG, or other AERA listservs.

In June, Council approved a substantially revised SIG Handbook, following a multi-year review led by the AERA SIG Executive Committee. The updated handbook streamlines existing guidance, reflects current AERA policies, and includes expanded information on resources available to SIG leaders.

The revised handbook also establishes two new policies: all SIGs are required to maintain an up-to-date website within AERA’s website, and all SIGs must hold a business meeting during the AERA Annual meeting at the time and location designated by the AERA central office.

AERA’s 153 SIGs foster communities of scholars around specialized areas of educational research, promoting collaboration, knowledge exchange, and professional engagement across the association.

Current 2026 AERA members may add SIGs and Divisions to their membership at any time by logging into their membership record at https://members.aera.net/, entering their username and password, and selecting the "Add a Division or SIG" option in the left-hand menu bar. Individuals joining or renewing AERA membership may also add SIGs and Divisions during the membership process at https://members.aera.net/. For assistance, please contact the membership team at members@aera.net.