Peer Review Process

Peer-Review Process

The Journal will use a standard double-blind review process. In this process, both the reviewer and author name(s) are removed and not allowed to be revealed for a manuscript under review.

All submissions will undergo an initial desk review by the journal editors to ensure appropriateness and formatting conventions are followed as outlined in the journal submission expectations. All manuscripts are assigned to two or more reviewers. Reviewers provide a complete, fair, thoughtful evaluation of manuscripts to ensure all published work meets the goals of the journal using a standard rubric.

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on the following criteria using a standard process:

  • Significance: Does the manuscript represent a new and demonstratively significant advancement in research on issues in education? How might the research be transformative or lead to transformation of education in new or modified ways?
  • Review of Literature: Does the manuscript include a well-organized and analytical review of relevant literature? Does the manuscript use a clear and well-developed theoretical/conceptual framework?
  • Research Design: Does the manuscript reflect appropriate design and methodology? Does the manuscript reflect high-quality data and analysis?
  • Discussion: Do the discussion and conclusion highlight the relevance of the findings for research, policy, and practice?
  • Implications/Recommendations for Practice: How do the findings connect to practice? Are the findings tightly connected to new pratices or to improve existing practices?
  • Style: Is the manuscript clear, logical, and concise? Does the manuscript follow APA publication guidelines?

Journal Submission Appropriateness

Priority is given to manuscripts that demonstrate research or critical interrogation of issues in P-20 education in congruence with the aim and scope of the journal. Manuscripts will initially be reviewed upon submission by the editors to examine for not just formatting, but germaneness to the journal. Authors and researchers should submit articles which present new research findings/theories/models, advance extant research, complement other research findings, critically interrogate education systems, complicate existing research, problematize new ways of thinking, or build on existing theoties or models. Manuscripts also can:

  • focusing on under-researched populations or identities
  • focusing on education across international contexts in other countries
  • using critical theories, new frameworks, discourses, and methodologies
  • tethering theory and research

Decision Outcomes

Based on the feedback from the Reviewers, the Editors will make one of the following decisions:

  • Decline Submission: The manuscript is unsuitable for publication in the journal.
  • Resubmit for Review (major revisions): The manuscript has potential for publication but significant revisions are required before publication can be considered.
  • Revisions Required (minor revisions): The manuscript has potential for publication but specific revisions should be made before publication can be considered.
  • Accept Submission: The manuscript can proceed to the next stage of the editorial process without any further edits.

The most common recommendations for manuscripts upon the first review are Decline Submission and Resubmit for Review (major revisions). We aim to provide initial decisions within 90 days from new manuscript submission. However, peer review may take more more time in some cases and manuscript acceptance timelines will vary.

If a manuscript is accepted for publication, all authors complete Terms of Agreement. By signing these terms of the agreement, authors release all copyrights to the journal.  We aim to publish accepted manuscripts in the 'Online First' format within 90 days after acceptance.