Editorial Statement

Abstract

Their collaboration with AERA and SAGE Publications to implement an electronic submission system has resulted in more efficient processing of manuscripts under consideration for publication. Moreover, we are pleased to have the opportunity to serve under the new AERA publications chair William Cope and members of the current Publications Committee. AERJ has been a premier outlet for education research since it first appeared in January 1964. In a review of the first four years of the journal, Di Vesta and Grinder (1968) pondered the influence of the journal for researchers and within education. They sought answers to four key questions: ''Of what significance is AERJ on the present educational scene? In what ways do its emphases and functions differ from those of other educational research journals? What kinds of papers has it published? How do educational researchers view it?'' (p. 687). They anticipated changes in educational research paradigms and methods of inquiry. A major challenge they articulated was whether AERJ would be able to address a ''broad spectrum of educational perspectives from all the behavioral sciences'' (p. 699). Di Vesta and Grinder concluded that the journal would become a leading publication outlet for educational research, one that communicated and informed the field and served as more than an archive for research. In addition, Di Vesta and Grinder's (1968) review projected the efforts that editors would need to make for a premier journal to influence education: address a broad spectrum of educational perspectives, communicate and inform the field, and serve as an invaluable archival source. In the decades since Di Vesta and Grinder's (1968) review, their conclusions have been confirmed. The articles published in AERJ-TLHD specifically acknowledge and address the complexity of educational research as well as national and international educational policy in ways unforeseen by the early reviewers. Last year, AERJ and other AERA journals underwent Web site upgrades that provide new, Web-native functionality. In addition, all past issues have now been electronically archived and can be located in the digital