NAEP Studies SIG Outstanding Paper Award

Call for Nominations – 2026 Award Cycle

Starting in 2022, the AERA NAEP Studies Special Interest Group (SIG) has issued an annual call for nominations for its Outstanding Paper Award. This award recognizes papers of exemplary conceptual, methodological, analytic, and writing quality that draw on NAEP data to advance education research or inform policy development. Papers may be published in either refereed or non-refereed sources.

The award committee evaluates nominated papers based on their contribution to the NAEP Studies SIG’s overarching call for focused attention on persistent issues of urgent concern to the field, including:

• Improvement in the measurement and understanding of noncognitive skills;
• Better understanding of contextual factors explaining achievement disparities; and
• Impacts of policy on educational achievement and growth.

All nominated papers must be accepted for publication by December 8, 2025.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible papers include:

• Scholarly or professional journal articles,
• Published reports, or
• Conference proceedings.

Special consideration will be given to work that uses NAEP data in original ways. Exemplary papers will make clear connections to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.

Additional eligibility guidelines:

• A paper may be submitted for consideration only once.
• To allow broad recognition, only one submission per person will be considered in a single cycle.
• A paper may be nominated for an award within only one AERA division or SIG.
• Nominations are encouraged from both domestic and international scholars.
• Nominations may be submitted by the author (self-nomination) or by anyone familiar with the author’s work.

Membership in AERA and the NAEP Studies SIG is not required to be nominated or to receive the award. Membership status should not influence award decisions. Please feel free to share this call widely with your networks.

Nomination Period and Submission

The nomination period for the 2026 Outstanding Paper Award:

• Opens: Monday, December 8, 2025
• Closes: Friday, January 9, 2026

Please send completed nomination packets via email to: bpark@air.org.

Nomination Materials

A complete nomination packet must include a letter of nomination and the following materials:

1. A brief summary of the nominated paper
   • Eight (8) sentences or fewer,
   • Explaining the relevance, importance, and originality of the work in advancing educational measurement and/or informing public policy.
2. A copy of the paper, including complete bibliographic information.
3. Evidence of publication or acceptance
   • A copy of the Table of Contents of the journal or outlet in which the paper appeared, OR
   • An acceptance letter from the editor(s) if the paper is in press.
4. A current CV for the nominee(s)
   • Nominees may include academics, doctoral students, and educational research professionals.
5. A statement of intent to attend
   • Nominee(s) should confirm they plan to attend the NAEP Studies SIG Business Meeting at the AERA Annual Meeting if selected to receive the award.
6. Ethics statement regarding professional conduct
   • For self-nominations:

     I acknowledge that my professional conduct adheres to the highest standards, including with respect to nondiscrimination, non-exploitation, and harassment in accordance with the AERA Code of Ethics.

   • For nominations of others:

     I know of no conduct by the nominee(s) that does not meet the standards set forth in the AERA Code of Ethics, including with respect to nondiscrimination, non-exploitation, and harassment.

The winning publication will be recognized at the NAEP Studies SIG Business Meeting at the AERA Annual Meeting following this nomination cycle.

NAEP Studies SIG Graduate Student Travel Awards

The AERA NAEP Studies SIG is putting out a call for applications for the 2026 Graduate Student Travel Awards. Awards of $100 in reimbursement will be provided to three graduate students attending AERA 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

The NAEP SIG Membership is required for consideration. Preference will be given to graduate students with NAEP SIG participation (e.g., proposal review), interest and/or experience in NAEP research, and/or a strong rationale for attending AERA in 2026.

To apply, please write a paragraph describing your (a) your NAEP SIG participation; your interest and/or experience in NAEP research, and why you would like to attend AERA in 2026.

Please send applications to my email (bpark@air.org). The application period begins on Monday, December 8, 2025, and continues until Friday, January 9, 2026.