October 2024

Following a successful two-year initial run at the 2023 and 2024 AERA Annual Meetings, AERA is continuing its focus on youth education research and youth teams in a renamed program called Research Engagement and Development with Youth (READY). Building upon insights gained from the first years of formal AERA youth team programs, the READY program continues AERA’s commitment to engage youth researchers at the Annual Meeting.

The program allows competitively selected teams of high school students to attend the AERA Annual Meeting, where they learn from seasoned scholars and present their research in a featured session. The AERA READY Program will be held on April 23–25, the first three days of the 2025 Annual Meeting in Denver. Click here to see the Call for Applications, which are due on December 5.

Teams of youth researchers that are selected to participate in this program will present their work in a high-profile poster session at the Annual Meeting. In addition, successful applicants will take part in a mini-workshop where they will discuss their ongoing projects and potential opportunities for continuing to pursue research. The mini-workshop will provide opportunities for the youth researchers to hone their presentation skills and network with peers as well as accomplished education researchers. Program participants will also attend a selected set of Annual Meeting sessions and events.

In 2024, 11 teams comprising 61 high school students were selected to join Annual Meeting attendees in Philadelphia. The 2023 program in Chicago included 13 teams, with a total of 79 students from the U.S., Canada, and Spain.

“We are thrilled to continue and enhance this unique opportunity for aspiring and talented young people to engage meaningfully in the education research enterprise,” said AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine. “The program will help inspire and foster the next generation of promising scholars.”

The program is designed for high school students who are currently working with an education researcher on the researcher’s study or are being advised by an education researcher. Applications will be advanced by the education researchers, who will provide an overview of their work with high school youth. High school teachers or those at other organizations who are guiding high school students in research are also eligible to apply.

Teams selected to participate will receive partial funding support to attend the 2025 AERA Annual Meeting.

Questions should be directed to edresearch@aera.net.