Contact:
Tony Pals, tpals@aera.net
(202) 238-3235, (202) 288-9333 (cell)

Victoria Oms, voms@aera.net
(202) 238-3233, (505) 850-3907 (cell)

WHAT
The 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association will feature five sessions of Ed Talks presented by leading education scholars. Each session will feature rapid-fire presentations focused on major education research themes and will be followed by engaging audience discussion. The sessions will touch on major issues in education equity, the use of research in policymaking, student learning, opportunities for disadvantaged students, and inclusive education practices.

Individual presentation topics range from the national teacher shortage, the disconnect between researchers and decision makers, and counter-intuitive findings from the science of learning, to improving college opportunities for disadvantaged students and the impact of K-12 civic education on political participation.

In each of the five session, the scholars’ presentations will be followed by brief comments by a media representative and a policy expert and then audience discussion.

WHERE
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Level Two, Room 207 B
Washington, D.C.

WHEN
Ed Talk sessions will be held April 9, April 11, and April 12. See “Ed Talk Session Details” below for specific times.

• The National Teacher Shortage: Sources and Solutions (Richard Ingersoll, University of Pennsylvania)
• The Educational Benefits of Diverse Schools and Classrooms for All Students (Russ W. Rumberger, University of California, Santa Barbara)
• High School Dropouts: Getting Students to Opt Into Learning All the Way to Graduation (Amy Stuart Wells, Teachers College, Columbia University)

Commentators: Sarah Dockery Sparks, Education Week; Daniel Leeds, National Public Education Support Fund

Session 2: Relationship and Research Use in Policymaking
Saturday, April 9, 2:15 to 3:45 p.m.
Talks include:

• The Challenge of Separating Spin from Evidence (Jeffrey R. Henig, Teachers College, Colombia University)
• Understanding How Education Systems Improve (Kara S. Finnigan, University of Rochester)
• Addressing the Disconnect Between Researchers and Decision Makers (Ruth Lopez Turley, Rice University)
• Design Research-Practice Partnerships as a Strategy for Implementing Change in Educational Context (William R. Penuel, University of Colorado, Boulder)

Commentators: Jill Barshay, The Hechinger Report; Amanda Beaumont, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Session 3: Broadening Conceptions of Learning
Monday, April 11, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Talks include:

• Counter-intuitive Findings from the Science of Learning (Michelene T.H. Chi, Arizona State University)
• Expansive and Consequential Learning for English Learners (Kris D. Gutierrez, University of California – Berkeley)
• Language as an Entry Point for Improving Literacy Skills (Young-Suk Kim, Florida State University)
• Children from “Underserved Minority” Backgrounds Have Strengths for Learning (Barbara Rogoff, University of California, Santa Cruz)

Commentator: Emily Hanford, American RadioWorks; Raymond C. Hart, Council of the Great City Schools

Session 4: Increasing the Education and Life Chances for the New American Majority
Monday, April 11, 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Talks include:

• Reducing Risks for Young Children and Supporting Their Families (Vivian L. Gadsden, University of Pennsylvania)
• Postsecondary Education Opportunities for Traditionally Disadvantaged Students (Barbara Schneider, Michigan State University)
• Improving College Access and Success for Students from Historically Underrepresented Groups (Laura W. Perna, University of Pennsylvania)

Commentators: Dan Berrett, Chronicle of Higher Education; Eric Rodriguez, National Council of La Raza

Session 5: Inclusive Education Practices
Tuesday, April 12, 10:35 a.m. to 12:05 p.m.
Talks include:

• Understanding the Paradoxes of Equity: The Case of Race and Disability Intersections (Alfredo J. Artiles, Arizona State University)
• The Impact of K–12 Civic Education on Political Participation and Voting in an Era of Political Polarization (Diana E. Hess, University of Wisconsin, Madison)
• How Students Learn to Read and Write Complex Texts for Success Beyond Schooling (Elizabeth Birr Moje, University of Michigan)
• Educating Students with Benefit of Indigenous Knowledge (Sharon Nelson-Barber, WestEd)

Commentators: Nirvi Shah, Politico; Mario Cardona, White House Domestic Policy Council

Please complete this Press Registration Form by 5 p.m. EDT Friday, April 8. The press room will be located in the Convention Center, Room 204A, Level Two. Additional information about press registration and the press room can be found here.

The American Education Research Association’s Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of education researchers in the world. The 2016 Annual Meeting, held in AERA’s Centennial Year, will provide an important launching point for the second century of the association and the future of education research. Each year, the AERA Annual Meeting is a showcase for ground-breaking, innovative studies in a diverse array of areas, from early education through higher education. The theme of this year's meeting is "Public Scholarship to Educate Diverse Democracies."

The hashtag for the 2016 Annual Meeting is #AERA16. You may also find us on Facebook and Twitter.