American Educator Peer Review Board Application

Since 1977, American Educator has published the highest-quality research and ideas related to preK–12 public education. Committed to educational equity from early childhood to adulthood, American Educator has recently expanded to higher education. As of fall 2020, American Educator is mailed quarterly to AFT members in preK–12 education and biannually to members in higher education and other educational roles. We are currently moving to a peer review process in which we rely on professionals like you to inform and strengthen our work.

We invite articles on a wide range of topics; for details please see our submission guidelines.

The peer reviewer’s role

Becoming a peer reviewer is a competitive process. We are seeking preK–12 classroom teachers and professors at two- and four-year colleges and universities with experience and expertise to guide our manuscript selection and editing processes. Although we provide a feedback form with several detailed questions to guide your review, it is still a challenging task. Only strong submissions that are being seriously considered for publication are sent for review, so a careful critique and a dedication to helping authors improve their manuscripts is required.

Reviewers are asked to comment on a submission’s suitability for the journal, the research base, and other strengths and areas for improvement, including making a recommendation on whether the article should be published. While final determinations about publication are made by American Educator editors, peer reviewers’ recommendations play a significant role in the decision-making process.

Serving as a peer reviewer is rewarding. Your comments help determine which submissions are published and enhance those that are selected. Ultimately, your review influences the extent to which the journal enriches the field.

Becoming a peer reviewer

To apply to become a peer reviewer, please send your resume or CV and a cover letter to ae@aft.org with the subject line “Peer Review.” If you have previously written for education professionals, please also send a sample (preferably a journal article).

Your cover letter should identify your areas of expertise and explain why you want to be a reviewer. It should also describe your relevant experience, including specific examples of teaching, writing, and research that have informed your areas of expertise.

Selected applicants will be sent the peer review form and a sample article to review. We will also request additional information about schedule and availability.

Serving as a peer reviewer

You will be invited to evaluate articles periodically based on your areas of expertise and availability. Upon accepting an article for review, you’ll be expected to return the article with feedback by the stated deadline, typically within two to four weeks. Our review process is anonymized—neither author(s) nor reviewers are identified to one another.