The purpose of the SIG is to foster the presence of inquiry in education related in letter and in spirit to the American philosopher, John Dewey. Such inquiry may be discipline based as in philosophy, history, or curriculum studies or interdisciplinary. Non-empirical scholarship is typical but empirical studies are also welcome.   

Dear Dewey Studies SIG Colleagues:

I know when I first joined AERA in 1993, it felt overwhelming. It is a huge conference with thousands of attendees from all over the world. Exciting but also intimidating. Through the years and participation in various Divisions, sub-divisions, and SIGs I formed the most important professional relationships of my life. My affiliation with AERA changed my life in that sense and provided a community of colleagues I treasure. It also allowed me to play with ideas and expand my boundaries beyond what I ever could have done otherwise. This is what I would hope members of the Dewey SIG get from membership both in the SIG and in AERA.

In the 30 years since I joined AERA, the institution and the world has also changed. Awareness of issues of social justice—race, class, gender, power, privilege, and oppression, and the fragility of democracy in the US and across the globe—has intensified. How is Dewey still relevant in the face of these forces? It is a question I think the SIG has to grapple with. In response, our call this year reflects a desire to engage in these questions.

A SIG lives and dies by bringing in new members, particularly graduates students. If you are a graduate student, welcome! It is my intention that the SIG provide graduate students with opportunities to actively participate in the SIG and form relationships with each other and with senior scholars. Stay tuned. Please feel free to contact me, Jiwon Kim (the SIG Program Chair), or Matt Livingston (our ad hoc graduate student representative) with ideas or questions.

If you have not already signed up to be a proposal reviewer or discussant, please do so! Graduate students, this is a great way to hone your proposal writing skills. We encourage you be active in the SIG on all levels—reviewing proposals, submitting proposals, attending SIG sessions, and providing support for SIG presenters. Equally important is attending the SIG business meeting (which, if all goes well, will be in person in 2023) and taking part in the activities hosted by the SIG.

Once again, we welcome you to the SIG and look forward to working with you. The SIG exists, in large part, to continue the relevance and legacy of John Dewey, a legacy that we as SIG members are responsible for realizing in education and society.

Respectfully,

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The AERA Approved Dewey Studies SIG Awardees for 2023:

Juanita Atkinson - Early Career Scholar: Virtual Meeting Only, Affiliation: University of South Africa

Jennifer Bartee  - Early Career Scholar: Place-based (includes Virtual Meeting), Affiliation: University of the District of Columbia     

Alina  Lewis - Travel Award, Affiliation: University at Albany (SUNY)

Henry  Lara-Steidel - Travel Award, Affiliation: The Ohio State University

American Educational Research Association

Special Interest Group:

Dewey Studies SIG

Article I.

NAME OF THE SIG

The name of this Special Interest Group (“SIG”) is the Dewey Studies SIG (hereinafter, the “SIG”). 

Article II.

AFFILIATION OF THE SIG

The SIG is a Special Interest Group of the American Educational Research Association (hereinafter, “AERA” or “Association”) established to facilitate the formation of research specialties of an intra- or cross-divisional nature and to increase the exchange of knowledge within research arenas of special interest, and for other purposes in keeping with achieving the mission and objectives of the Association. 

Article III.

GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE SIG

The SIG shall be governed by the Association’s Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and policies as periodically amended. The Bylaws, decisions and actions of the SIG shall not conflict with the Association’s Bylaws and policies, including the SIG Handbook and all guidelines, procedures and policies associated with the Association’s Annual Meeting and its program. 

Article IV.

PURPOSES OF THE SIG: Dewey Studies SIG

The purposes of the SIG are to foster the presence of inquiry in education related in letter and in spirit to the American philosopher, John Dewey. Such inquiry may be discipline based as in philosophy, history, or curriculum studies or interdisciplinary. Non-empirical scholarship is typical but empirical studies are also welcome.  

Article V.

MEMBERSHIP IN THE SIG

Section 1. Eligibility. Membership in the SIG shall be open to any AERA member who supports the purposes of the SIG and who pays the specified SIG dues and all additional fees required of SIG members by the Association. 

Section 2. Joining the SIG. AERA members shall join the SIG by paying SIG dues and Association fees through the AERA Central Office using the appropriate AERA print or electronic form.  

Section 3. Members in Good Standing. SIG members are considered ‘in good standing’ immediately upon the recording of their dues paid in full by the AERA Central Office. 

Section 4. Length of Membership in the SIG. The length of membership in the SIG shall be from the date membership dues are recorded in Central Office to the end of the AERA membership year as established by the Association. AERA members may join the SIG at any time, but SIG membership expires simultaneously with AERA membership. 

Section 5. Voting Rights. All SIG members in good standing, with fully paid SIG dues, shall be entitled to vote for SIG officers and on any other matter where a vote is required or taken. 

Article VI.

OFFICERS

Section 1. Required Officers.  The SIG shall have a Chair, Secretary/Treasurer and Program Chair/Chair Elect who shall be elected and shall serve as the three required officers. The SIG may have any other officers that its members from time to time choose to designate. 

Section 2. Other Officers. The other officers of this SIG shall be the Communications Officer and the Immediate Past Chair.

Section 3. Eligibility to Hold Office. All members in good standing of both AERA and the SIG and who are not restricted from holding a particular office due to requirements in the Association’s or the SIG’s Bylaws and policies shall be eligible to run as candidates for election or be appointed as officers and for any office within the SIG. 

Section 4. Length of Term of Office. Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, the term of each officer shall be for two years. The term of each officer shall begin the day following the close of the AERA Annual Meeting and end on the last day of the AERA Annual Meeting two years later.

Stipulated as longer terms are those of the Secretary/Treasurer and the Communications Officer for two years. 

Section 5. Eligibility to Succeed to the Same Office for Consecutive Terms. Unless otherwise specified or restricted in these Bylaws, individuals shall be eligible to be nominated and to succeed themselves, if elected, to the same office for consecutive terms.

Section 6. Automatic Succession of Offices. There shall be an automatic succession of the following offices, from Program Chair/Chair Elect to Chair and from Chair to Immediate Past Chair in that order such that the person elected as Program Chair/Chair Elect shall automatically assume the office of Chair following the completion of one term as Program Chair/Chair Elect and then shall automatically assumer the office of Immediate Past Chair following the completion of one term as Chair.

Section 7. Limit to Length of Service in One Office. No person may serve in the same office for more than three consecutive years. The Chair of the SIG shall be charged with ensuring that this requirement is met.

Section 8. Officers as Members of AERA for Entire Term. All individuals serving as officers of the SIG shall be members of AERA during their entire term of office. 

Section 9. Vacancies. Whenever any elected office is vacated for any reason before the term of that officer has been completed, the SIG Chair shall on advice from the Executive Committee appoint a replacement until new elections are held. This replacement shall assume the full duties and responsibilities of that office immediately upon appointment. In the case of the Chair position being vacant, the Executive Committee shall by majority vote elect an individual to complete the term of the Chair. 

Article VII.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICERS

Section 1. Chair. The Chair shall be responsible for the general administration of the SIG, for ensuring that the SIG Bylaws are followed, and shall act as liaison between the SIG and AERA and the SIG and the SIG Executive Committee. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the SIG’s Executive Committee and at the Annual Business Meeting. The Chair shall act as parliamentarian or shall appoint a SIG member to serve in that role for each meeting. The Chair shall appoint ad hoc committees as needed. Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, the Chair of the SIG shall appoint persons to assist officers, to chair committees or to carry out other work of the SIG. 

Section 2. Secretary/Treasurer. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for managing and reporting on the financial accounts of the SIG and the safe keeping of all financial documents of the SIG.

Section 3. Chair Elect/Program Chair. The SIG Chair Elect/ Program Chair has major responsibility for organizing the Annual SIG Program at the AERA Annual Meeting. This includes soliciting proposals, obtaining reviewers, assessing reviews, selecting participants, and organizing the SIG program offerings.   

Section 4. Communications Officer. The SIG Communications Officer works with the SIG Chair and other members of the SIG Executive Committee to communicate SIG business to the membership. 

Section 5. Immediate Past Chair. The Immediate Past Chair shall serve as the fourth officer of the SIG providing important assistance with continuity and SIG memory.

Article VIII.

OTHER NON-OFFICER POSITIONS

Section 1. Non-Officer Positions. The SIG may from time to time establish important leadership positions that are not officers of the SIG

Section 2. Titles of Non-Officer Positions. The SIG shall appoint or membership shall elect individuals to the following non-officer leadership positions to carry out leadership or task assignments of the SIG for the benefit of the SIG:   A Chair of Nominations shall be appointed by the SIG Chair.

Section 2a. Unless otherwise stated in these Bylaws, the current qualifications, eligibility requirements, duties, responsibilities, term limits, and manner and timing of the appointment for each non-officer position shall be posted on the SIG’s website and shall not violate these Bylaws or those of the Association.

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Section 2b. Individuals serving in non-officer positions may not serve, make motions or vote on the Executive Committee, although they may, from time to time and at the discretion of the Chair, be invited to participate and provide reports to the Executive Committee.

Section 3. Eligibility. All members in good standing of both AERA and the SIG and who are not restricted from holding a particular non-office position due to requirements in the Association’s or the SIG’s Bylaws and policies shall be eligible to run as candidates for election or be appointed to any non-officer position within the SIG. 

Section 4. Length of Term for These Positions.  The term of each of these non-officer positions shall be three years. The term of each non-officer shall begin the day following the close of the AERA Annual Meeting. See above terms for appointed committee chairs.

Section 5. Eligibility to Succeed to the Same Non-Officer Position for Consecutive Terms. Individuals shall not be eligible for appointment to the same non-officer position for consecutive terms.

Section 6. Limit of Length of Term in the Same Non-Officer Position. No person may serve in the same elected non-officer position for more than three consecutive years. The Chair of the SIG shall be charged with ensuring that this requirement is met.

Section 7. Non-Officers as Members of AERA for Entire Term. All individuals serving in non-officer positions of the SIG shall be members of AERA during their entire term of office. 

Section 8. Vacancies.  Whenever any non-officer position is vacated for any reason before the term has been completed, the SIG Chair shall appoint a replacement until the date of the next election or  appointment cycle for that position. This replacement shall assume the full duties and responsibilities of that position immediately upon appointment. 

Article IX.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF NON-OFFICER POSITIONS

Section 1. Chair of Nominations.  The Chair of Nominations will head a committee to nominate both officers and non-officers of the SIG. The committee will be composed of three persons appointed by the SIG chair.

Article X.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. Membership. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the SIG Chair, Secretary/Treasurer, Program Chair/Chair Elect, Communications Officer and Immediate Past Chair.

Section 2. Responsibilities and Powers. The Executive Committee shall have responsibility and powers to direct and review the general affairs of the SIG within the limits set forth in these Bylaws and to provide leadership. 

Section 3. Meetings. The Executive Committee shall hold at least one meeting each year in person and shall communicate as needed throughout the year. This meeting may be during the Annual Meeting. The Chair shall be responsible for setting the time and place of this meeting and for creating and distributing the agenda for this meeting.

Section 4. Quorum and Decision-making. A majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum, and decisions of the Executive Committee shall be by a majority of those present, provided a quorum is present.

Article XI.

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. Oversight of the Nominations and Elections Process. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for setting up, monitoring and providing other oversight duties regarding all aspects of the nomination and election processes of the SIG.

Section 2. Nominations Committee. The Nominations Committee shall consist of a Chair and three other SIG members who are appointed by the SIG Chair.

Section 3. Nominations and Nomination Process.

Section 3a. The Nominations Committee shall seek eligible individuals to serve as candidates for each elected officer and non-officer position and shall accept self-nominations.

Section 3b. No SIG member may nominate an individual for any SIG office without the prior consent of that individual to be nominated.

Section 3c. The SIG Chair shall ensure that the Nominating Committee elicits at least two candidates for each position to be elected. No election may be held or will be certified by AERA for any elected position unless there are at least two candidates nominated and placed on the ballot for that position. 

Section 3d. By the deadline set by the Association, the Nominations Committee shall submit the names of the candidates and any other information required by AERA for inclusion in the AERA electronic ballot system. The deadline for this submission shall be determined by the Association.

Section 4. Date for Completion of Election Tabulation. All election processes and tabulation of votes for designated officers and elected non-officer positions for the following year shall be completed within the timeline and by the deadline established by AERA in conducting its electronic election of Officers of the Association. The Chair of the Nominations Committee shall receive the results of the balloting from the Central Office.

Section 5. Notification of Results. The SIG Chair, following notification by the Chair of Nominations shall be responsible for reporting the results to the membership. 

Article XII.

MEETINGS

Section 1. Annual Business Meeting. The SIG shall hold its Annual Business Meeting in conjunction with the AERA Annual Meeting. Announcement of day, time and place of this meeting of the SIG membership shall be made by the SIG Chair as far ahead as is reasonably possible.  In all cases notice shall be communicated to members at least three weeks in advance of a meeting.  Unless otherwise noted in these Bylaws, decisions made during this meeting shall be by the majority of SIG members present and voting.

Section 2. Other Meetings. The SIG may hold other meetings at times and places approved by the Executive Committee and vote of the SIG members.  The SIG may conduct SIG business and vote on motions in person, electronically, or by e-mail or mail.

Section 3. Officer and Committee Meetings. The Officers and Committees of the SIG shall meet when, where and as needed to conduct the business of the SIG or carry out the charges of the committee within the parameters and requirements of these Bylaws. The SIG Chair, other SIG officers and committee chairs shall set the meetings and notify all officers of the date, time, place and agenda or purposes of the meetings.

Section 4. Rules of Order. In all cases to which they apply and do not conflict with the provisions of these Bylaws and the Association Bylaws, Robert’s Rules of Order (current edition) shall govern all business meetings of the SIG.

Article XIII

DUES AND OTHER FISCAL CONCERNS

Section 1. Dues. Dues for the SIG shall be decided by the SIG’s Executive Committee voting by postal, e-mail, or electronic ballot.

Section 2. Effective Date of Dues Increases. All increases in dues shall go into effect for all categories

of SIG membership for the following membership year as determined by the Association.

Section 3. Allocation of SIG Assets. The Chair, in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall authorize the expenditure of SIG funds for any allowable purpose that is requested and approved. 

Section 4. Overseeing the Allocation of SIG Assets. The Chair and the Secretary/Treasurer shall have the joint responsibility to ensure that all SIG assets, including money collected via dues, are allocated and spent in ways and in a timely manner to fulfill commitments made by the SIG members or Executive Committee, to pay fees to the Association, to pay debts and to enhance and promote the SIG and the purposes, goals and objectives of the SIG and the Association. 

Article XIV.

AERA-APPROVED AWARDS

AERA SIGs may confer awards that are approved by the AERA Executive Board.  Detailed information about AERA-approved awards may be obtained from the AERA Central Office and from the AERA website.

Article XV.

TERMINATION/DISSOLUTION OF THE SIG

Section 1. Membership Decision to Voluntarily Dissolve the SIG. Should it be decided that the SIG is no longer meeting the needs and serving the purposes for which it was founded, the SIG shall be voluntarily dissolved by a majority vote of the members present at a SIG Business Meeting followed by a two-thirds vote of those voting in a postal, e-mail, or electronic ballot administered by the AERA Central Office. The results of this ballot shall be communicated in writing to the SIG membership, AERA Central Office and Chair of the SIG Executive Committee by the SIG Chair within one week of the counting of the votes. 

Section 2. Other Circumstances that May Result in the Dissolution of the SIG. The SIG may be automatically be dissolved should its membership fall below the minimum number established by Council for active SIGs; should its members approve the merging of the SIG with one or more other SIGs, or for other reasons pursuant to the Bylaws of the Association and the SIG. In addition, a Special Interest Group may be dissolved by the AERA Council for good and sufficient reasons.

Section 3. Distribution of SIG Assets. Should the SIG be discontinued for any reason, its assets shall be used to pay all outstanding debts and obligations. Any remaining funds shall be returned to the AERA.

Article XVI.

RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Approval Process of the Initial Bylaws. The process for approving the initial Bylaws shall be as follows, with the actions of AERA Council noted for the information of membership:

Section 1a. The officers of the SIG shall decide the process for the construction of a draft of the Bylaws, and offer SIG members an opportunity to comment on this draft.  The officers shall be responsible for making specific revisions, additions and/or deletions in the Bylaws based upon the feedback and suggestions. 

Section 1b. After the membership has provided feedback and input on the draft of the Bylaws, the Chair shall submit a copy of the draft to AERA Central Office for review. Central Office may send it back to the SIG Chair with comments for revisions or may forward the Bylaws to the SIG Executive Committee for review and recommendation to the AERA Council for approval.  The SIG Executive Committee may return the Bylaws to the SIG Chair to address specific concerns before making a recommendation to Council.

Section 1c. the AERA Council may require changes or revisions in the language of the Bylaws or amendments thereof prior to final approval. Once approved by Council, the SIG Chair shall be notified that the Bylaws are in effect and will stay in effect until notification in writing to Central Office of the favorable or unfavorable vote of SIG members. The SIG Chair and officers, with the assistance of the AERA Central Office, shall then complete the process of getting approval of the Bylaws by a vote of SIG members. The SIG Chair shall have 30 days to convey in writing to Central Office and the Chair of the SIG Executive Committee the dates and manner of voting decided upon by the SIG officers.

Section 2. Ratification. After Council approval, these Bylaws shall require a majority vote of those members voting electronically, such voting to be administered by the AERA Central Office on behalf of the SIG. The AERA Central Office shall transmit in writing the manner, dates and results of this vote to the SIG Chair within 10 days of the final count of the votes. 

Section 3. Effective Date of Implementation. These Bylaws shall take effect immediately upon receipt in writing to the AERA Central Office by the SIG Chair acknowledging the Central Office’s written statement of the favorable vote of the SIG membership for the presented version of the Bylaws or amendment(s) thereof.

Section 4. Amendments to the SIG Bylaws. These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of those members voting at a duly called Annual Business Meeting and a majority of the members voting by postal, e-mail, or electronic voting as designated by the Executive Committee or elsewhere within these Bylaws. Amendments to the SIG Bylaws must be approved by the AERA SIG Executive Committee and Council.

Article XVII.

POSTING OF THE SIG BYLAWS

Within 30 days of the membership’s adoption of the SIG Bylaws approved by the AERA Council and all amendments to the Bylaws, the entire set of Bylaws shall be posted on the AERA website for the SIG with the date of Council’s approval included and the Chair shall send an electronic communication to all SIG members announcing the posting of the Bylaws on the SIG website.