2020 Conference Call for Proposals

Joint International School Choice & Reform Conference 2020: Connecting Research, Practice, and Policy

General Information

The eighth annual International School Choice and Reform Conference (ISCRC) will bring together academics, legal and policy experts, researchers, policy specialists, practitioners, and organization leaders from around the world who are interested in school choice and education reform. The conference will be held January 17-20, 2020 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel.

The focus of the conference is on how school choice practice and policy shapes education, including the roles of various stakeholders, such as parents and teachers. Of particular interest are the connections between choice, autonomy, equity, and effective education. The conference encourages both empirically-based papers that use strong quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methodological approaches and theoretical and philosophical analyses connected to choice and policy analysis of law and regulations concerning school choice and reform. We particularly welcome presentations that are critical as well as supportive of school choice. Papers focusing on school choice and reform in an international perspective are highly encouraged.

Session Categories

Conference submissions can take one of three forms: single paper submissions, symposia or panels, and critical conversations and networking sessions, selected through this open call for submissions and a peer review process.

1. Accepted PAPER submissions will be assembled into three-paper panels.  A moderator and discussant will be appointed for each panel. We encourage proposals that target cutting-edge topics under the general theme of school choice in a nation, city, state, region or association of nations. Papers based upon empirical data with clear policy implications are preferred.
2. SYMPOSIA or PANELS provide opportunities to examine a specific school choice topic from a variety of perspectives, or across different cities, states, regions or countries. Symposium participants may or may not choose to submit written papers, and might include practitioners and policymakers. The organizer of a symposium proposes the topic, identifies participants, and describes the format to be used. Consent of all participants should be obtained before advancing a symposium proposal.  Symposia/Panel proposals should provide the contact information for all presenters or participants, a chair, and any discussants.
3. CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS AND NETWORKING SESSIONS: These 60-minute sessions should facilitate informal, lively discussions around a series of provocative questions or research in progress around school choice and educational reforms. Sessions may be structured to: 1) include a panel of participants who facilitate and guide the conversation; 2) engage the organizers and attendees in dialogue/discussion on an issue or series of related questions, or 3) provide scholars with common research interests dedicated time to meet, plan, discuss and consider developing collaborative projects, papers, and other scholarly pursuits that will be a continued focus beyond the conference.

We strongly encourage submission of proposals that take advantage of the diversity of conference participants, both internationally and by sector, and that stimulate broad policy rather than technical discussions.  Examples might include:

• Diverse approaches to school choice (e.g., magnet schools, tuition tax credits, charter schools).
• Diverse perspectives on a single topic related to school choice (e.g., parent engagement, the role of government regulation).
• International comparisons of the implementation or impact of school choice policies.
• Understanding the implications of various school choice reforms for diverse populations and communities.
• Exchanges among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.
• Comparisons between the educational policy of diverse political groups.

Guidelines for Content and Submission of Proposals

To submit a proposal, please click on the relevant hyperlink for directions:

1. Single Paper Proposals
2. Symposia/Panel Proposals 
3. Critical Conversations and Networking Session Proposals

Please submit the title page and blinded proposal as two separate files by email to: schoolchoice.conference@gmail.com

All submissions are due by 5PM on Friday August 30, 2019. Notification of proposal acceptance or rejection will be sent by September 20, 2019.

Presenters are expected to submit their papers to their assigned discussant no later than January 10, 2020.

Questions about proposal submissions may be directed to Ben Scafidi (bscafidi@kennesaw.edu); Anna Egalite (anna_egalite@ncsu.edu) ; Marisa Cannata (marisa.cannata@vanderbilt.edu);  or Tommaso Agasisti (tommaso.agasisti@polimi.it).   Additional details on conference announcements, registration, and hotel accommodations may be found at http://iscrweb.org/

To learn more about travel grants available for ISCRC attendees, please visit this page (coming soon).