As the primary advocate of education research in the nation’s capital, AERA monitors federal legislation, policy, and regulations affecting education research, and identifies opportunities to influence the development and protection of sound science policy. 

AERA engages with all federal agencies funding education research with particular interest in the Institute of Education Sciences, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health. To this end, AERA actively participates in coalitions of the scientific community to most effectively support funding and resources for federal research and statistics.

In addition, AERA showcases the efforts of association members in various activities to raise awareness of their important research contributions that have been funded by the federal government. Capitol Hill briefings and public events, such as the annual Coalition for National Science Funding Capitol Hill exhibition, highlight the benefits of long-term investments in research. AERA also coordinates the Organization of Institutional Affiliates, a network of deans at schools of education who are interested in federal education research policy.