October 2026
Amid significant changes in federal research priorities and funding, more than 60 deans, associate deans, and research institution leaders gathered in Washington, D.C. on September 27–29 for the 2026 Fall Policy Conference of the AERA Consortium of University and Research Institutions (AERA-CURI). Held in the Felice J. Levine AERA Convening Center, the conference focused on pressing challenges and opportunities for education research institutions, with public engagement and research impact as themes throughout the program.
The conference opened with a discussion of the Department of Education’s interagency agreements and their implications for the field. Braden Goetz (New America), Kuna Tavalin (Council for Exceptional Children), and Tara Thomas (AASA, The School Superintendents Association) shared perspectives on the current landscape and what they are hearing from education stakeholders.
Federal research priorities and funding opportunities were also central topics. Matthew Soldner, acting director of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and acting commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), provided updates on IES's guiding principles for grant applications and NCES activities. Elizabeth Albro, acting commissioner of the National Center for Education Research (NCER) and commissioner of the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER), highlighted recent and forthcoming FY 2027 NCER and NCSER grant competitions.
Monya Ruffin, acting directorate head of the National Science Foundation (NSF) STEM Education Directorate, discussed the directorate’s reorganization and alignment with administration priorities, including those outlined earlier this year in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s New Golden Age of Science report.
Several sessions explored how education researchers and institutional leaders can strengthen public engagement and communicate the value of research to different audiences. Erin Hennessy (TVP Communications) emphasized the importance of institutional leadership in developing messages that resonate with audiences rather than simply “telling a story.” Wil Del Pilar (EdTrust), Michael DiNapoli (Learning Policy Institute), and Erin Dunlop Velez (Institute for Higher Education Policy) offered perspectives on the types of education research most useful to policymakers and how the timing of research findings can influence their impact.
The conference also addressed strategies for advocating for education research. Heather Bloemhard (Vanderbilt University), Alicia Kielmovitch (WestEd), CJ Powell (Association of American Universities), and Julia Smith (University of Virginia) shared insights from their work in federal government affairs and discussed approaches to institutional advocacy.
Art Coleman and Jamie Lewis Keith from EducationCounsel examined the evolving legal landscape and its implications for institutional efforts to advance access and opportunity. Participants also exchanged strategies for navigating changes in federal research funding and supporting graduate students and early career scholars.
The conference program was developed collaboratively by the AERA-CURI Executive Committee and AERA staff. AERA-CURI brings together colleges of education and research institutions to address issues affecting their research missions, advance federal support for education research and sound research policies, and strengthen collaboration among scholars and institutions.
Building on the discussions at the Fall Policy Conference, AERA-CURI will continue to engage members through webinars, timely policy updates, and a Spring Conference held in conjunction with the 2027 AERA Annual Meeting in Toronto. More information is available on the AERA website.