Professional Organizations

Established in 1957, the African Studies Association is the flagship membership organization devoted to enhancing the exchange of information about Africa. With almost 2,000 individual and institutional members worldwide, the African Studies Association encourages the production and dissemination of knowledge about Africa, past and present. Based in the United States, the ASA supports understanding of an entire continent in each facet of its political, economic, social, cultural, artistic, scientific, and environmental landscape. Our members include scholars, students, teachers, activists, development professionals, policymakers and donors.

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) is dedicated to the improvement and expansion of the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction. ACTFL is an individual membership organization of more than 12,500 language educators and administrators from elementary through graduate education, as well as government and industry.

Since its founding (in 1967), ACTFL has become synonymous with innovation, quality, and reliability in meeting the changing needs of language educators and their students. From the development of Proficiency Guidelines, to its leadership role in the creation of national standards, ACTFL focuses on issues that are critical to the growth of both the profession and the individual teacher.

The American Educational Research Association (AERA), a national research society, strives to advance knowledge about education, to encourage scholarly inquiry related to education, and to promote the use of research to improve education and serve the public good. Founded in 1916, it is concerned with improving the educational process by encouraging scholarly inquiry related to education and evaluation and by promoting the dissemination and practical application of research results

AMLE is a membership organization dedicated to helping middle school educators reach every student, grow professionally, and create great schools. It is dedicated to empowering educators who create opportunities to cultivate the potential and possibilities of young adolescents.

The Council for Exceptional Children is a professional association of educators dedicated to advancing the success of children with exceptionalities. We accomplish our mission through advocacy, standards, and professional development.

When students and teachers are engaged in work that is challenging, adventurous and meaningful, learning and achievement flourish. Our mission is to create classrooms where teachers can fulfill their highest aspirations, and students achieve more than they think possible, becoming active contributors to building a better world.

The International Literacy Association (ILA) is a global advocacy and membership organization of more than 300,000 literacy educators, researchers, and experts across 86 countries. With more than 60 years of experience, ILA has set the standard for how literacy is defined, taught, and evaluated.

The Literacy Research Association is a non-profit professional organization, comprised of individuals who share an interest in advancing literacy theory, research, and practice. We are a community that engages in research and dialogue pertaining to literacy and related topics. We support the professional development of emerging and established scholars. We advocate research-informed improvements in education. We seek engagement with high-quality research and discussions of important theoretical, methodological, practice and policy issues.

Founded in 1883, the Modern Language Association of America has worked for more than a century to strengthen the study and teaching of languages and literatures. In addition to hosting an annual convention and sustaining one of the finest publishing programs in the humanities, the MLA is a leading advocate for the study and teaching of languages and literatures and serves as a clearinghouse for professional resources for teachers and scholars.

NAME is a non-profit organization that advances and advocates for equity and social justice through multicultural education. Its objectives are to provide opportunities for learning in order to advance multicultural education, equity and social justice, to proactively reframe public debate and impact current and emerging policies in ways that advance social, political, economic and educational equity through advocacy, position papers, policy statements and other strategies, and to provide the preeminent digital clearinghouse of resources about educational equity and social justice.

The National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) is dedicated to ensuring that all children and adolescents with special needs receive the best education possible. NASET serves the professional interest of special education teachers in order to promote the highest professional standards.

The National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) is a non-profit organization, chartered in 1915, to enhance the status and quality of geography teaching and learning. NCGE promotes geographic teaching by providing professional development opportunities, producing journals and other geography publications, developing and distributing content and resources, honoring teachers, mentors and researchers; advocating for geography in schools; and organizing an annual conference and other forums for educators. NCGE promotes the greater sharing of ideas, information, best practices and innovative processes.

The National Council for History Education provides professional and intellectual leadership to foster an engaged community committed to the teaching, learning, and appreciation of diverse histories. Through historical inquiry, NCHE empowers learners to research and interpret the past. Using History’s Habits of Mind, our members investigate the past, engage in the present, and are empowered to shape the future.

Founded in 1921, National Council for the Social Studies is the largest professional association in the country devoted solely to social studies education. NCSS engages and supports educators in strengthening and advocating social studies. The mission of the National Council for the Social Studies is to advocate and build capacity for high-quality social studies by providing leadership, services, and support to educators.

Through collaboration and community, shared stories and shared experiences, NCTE supports teachers and their students in classrooms, on college campuses, and in online learning environments. For more than 100 years, NCTE has worked with its members to offer journals, publications, and resources; to further the voice and expertise of educators as advocates for their students at the local and federal levels; and to share lesson ideas, research, and teaching strategies through its Annual Convention and other professional learning events.

Founded in 1920, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) is the world's largest mathematics education organization. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics advocates for high-quality mathematics teaching and learning for each and every student.

Founded in 1944 (as the National Science Teachers Association), the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It is the largest organization in the world committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership of 50,000 includes science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in and committed to science education.

Founded in 1969, the New England Educational Research Organization is a regional affiliate of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). NEERO currently has over 250 professional and student members from colleges and universities, public and private schools, state and local educational agencies, health and social service agencies, and private education firms.

The New England Environmental Education Alliance was formed in 1980, with roots that extend back to 1966. That year, a handful of educators in the region agreed to meet on an annual basis. Conferences were organized by Chuck Roth, Director of Education at Massachusetts Audubon. A group of environmental education leaders from the six New England states on a rotating basis.

The New England Historical Association (NEHA) is a regional affiliate of the American Historical Association and includes over 500 scholars working in all branches of history. Formed in 1965, its purpose is to promote scholarly interchange and to enhance teaching and scholarship in history. While most of its members are college and university faculty, its active participants also include graduate students, independent scholars, preservationists and museum-based scholars, historical society administrators, and secondary school faculty.