CALL FOR PRESENTATION PROPOSALS
The 2026 Annual Meeting and Writing Retreat of the Louisiana Education Research Association (LERA)
will be held:
March 4-6, 2026
Hilton Garden Inn Lafayette
2350 W. Congress St., Lafayette, LA 70506
Click here to view the conference program.
The theme for the 2026 Conference is, “Bridging Research and Practice in Louisiana: Innovation and Impact in a Digital Age”.
The 2026 LERA Conference highlights how innovation and research together are transforming learning, leadership, and professional practice across Louisiana and the broader South. Our theme, Bridging Research and Practice in Louisiana: Innovation and Impact in a Digital Age, emphasizes the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, digital literacy, and emerging technologies while grounding these advances in rigorous, actionable research and practical application. Across Louisiana’s diverse contexts from classrooms and universities to healthcare, business, and community organizations, educators and professionals are exploring how innovation can enhance efficiency, foster creativity, expand access to knowledge, and empower individuals from every background. At the same time, these shifts call us to reflect on ethics, equity, and the human side of innovation. We invite presentations that showcase research, practice, and policy perspectives rooted in Louisiana’s context. Recognizing that learning is shaped by health, family, workforce, and community factors, we especially welcome contributions from psychology, nursing, business, and allied fields vital to Louisiana’s future.
Sub-themes
- Innovation in Louisiana: Harnessing AI, Technology, and Digital Literacy for All
- From Data to Impact: Research Driving Change in Louisiana
- Bridging Research and Practice: Building Louisiana’s Future Together
LERA is seeking proposals for paper, roundtable, symposium, or poster presentations on impactful research that is taking place all over the state. We invite all stakeholders in education, psychology, nursing, business, and allied fields—college and university faculty/staff, undergraduate and graduate students, PK-12 educators and administrators, and policymakers—to share their work on this critical theme. Together, we can foster communities that thrive in harmony with the environment and ensure that education becomes a force for long-lasting positive change. We encourage innovative solutions, research, and strategies that contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
Guidelines for Submitting Proposals for Paper Sessions
To submit a proposal, go to the proposal submission form. All proposals must be submitted electronically no later than Friday, January 16, 2026 (deadline extended). Proposals consist of a title of 15 words or less and a 500-word maximum abstract. All proposals are blindly reviewed. We ask that you remove all identifying information from your submission document. Submission of a proposal is a professional commitment to register and present at the conference. Acceptance status will be e-mailed on or before February 6, 2025. Authors of accepted presentations are required to pre-register for the conference to remain on the program.
Proposal Reviewers and Session Discussants
To maintain the high quality of the LERA conference, we invite you to sign up as a proposal reviewer and session discussant. Proposal reviewers will be assigned to review approximately 15 proposals. For the paper sessions, discussants will keep presentations on time, offer commentary and critique, and facilitate audience discussion. During the roundtable session, the discussant will keep presentations on time and encourage the roundtable participants to participate in discussion. You can sign up to serve LERA in these capacities when you submit your proposal in the online portal.
Outstanding Paper Awards
Each year, two awards are given as part of the annual conference for professionals and for graduate students: The Rayma Harchar Outstanding Research Paper Award and the LERA Outstanding Graduate Student Research Paper Award. Selection is based on the quality of the written paper, and criteria for judging will be made available upon notification of acceptance of the proposal. To be eligible recipients, all award paper nominees must be registered and present their paper at the conference.
- The recipient of the Rayma Harchar Outstanding Research Paper Award will be an author who has previously defended their thesis or dissertation and graduated, working as a professional in their field. The author who receives this award will have the paper published in Research Issues in Contemporary Research (RICE) and is invited to present the paper at the following year’s (2027) Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). The recipient also receives reimbursement up to a maximum of $1,000.00 to support travel to this meeting.
- Any paper whose principal author is a current graduate student or a student who completed a thesis or dissertation in 2025 that was submitted in partial fulfillment of degree requirements at a college or university in Louisiana will be eligible for the LERA Outstanding Graduate Student Paper Award. The recipient of this award will be invited to submit the paper for publication in RICE.
To be considered for either award, the completed paper must be submitted via email to the LERA Executive Director, Dr. Natalie Keefer ([email protected]), on or before February 20, 2026, with notation for which award the paper is being submitted. Papers submitted for either award will be evaluated on the following criteria: (a) subject/problem, (b) research design or procedure, (c) results, (d) findings and discussion, and (e) writing mechanics. Announcements of awards are made at the Friday session of the annual LERA meeting. Papers must not exceed 25 pages and must follow the most recent APA formatting and style guide.
Writing Retreat
LERA will host its annual writing retreat for graduate students and professionals on Wednesday, March 4th from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. The purpose of the writing retreat is to create a mutually supportive space for attendees to write, receive feedback from colleagues, and network with educational professionals with related research and scholarly interests. The retreat will be free for all conference registrants. Individuals who will attend the retreat are required to register for the conference and are encouraged to submit a paper proposal. For more information about the retreat, please contact Dr. Natalie Keefer at [email protected].
Conference Registration Information
Registration is required of all participants and guests and can be accessed here; the details are included in the table below and will be included with acceptance decisions, which will be emailed by February 6, 2026. On-site registration is $10.00 higher than early registration. Registration gives you access to all sessions and social events during the conference.
| LERA 2026 Conference Registration Dates and Fees | ||
| From December 29 – February 23 | February 24 – On site | |
| Full Professional | $65 | $75 |
| Student | $40 | $50 |
Hotel/Lodging Registration Information
For those who require overnight accommodations, we have reserved a block of rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn Lafayette/Cajundome for $110. per night. Hotel rooms must be reserved by February 22nd, 2026. To reserve your room, please call 337-291-1977 and use group code LERA26 or follow this link : https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/lftcdgi-lera26-b09965b9-023b-47e0-a33b-62d3dbfb588/
If you have questions or require additional information, you can visit email Dr. Tiffini Brigola, the LERA Vice-President and Program Chair, at [email protected].