The editorial board consists of:
- MTA Staff
- Higher education scholars who are MTA members specializing in education and/or intersect education through an interdisciplinary lens.
- PreK-12 MTA members who have published in the field or strongly desire to publish and reflect deeply on education policy & practice.
- Scholars who are not MTA members who have contributed extensively to the field of education and whose expertise would be invaluable.
- Community members who identify as educational justice organizers and strongly interested in advancing scholarship in the public interest.
Peer Review Process
Peer review is the cornerstone of scholarly publishing, ensuring rigor, credibility, and quality in academic research. Once a manuscript is submitted to a journal, the editorial team initiates the peer review process, which typically follows these key steps:
Editorial Evaluation: Upon submission, the editorial board assesses the manuscript’s alignment with the journal’s scope and basic standards of quality. If deemed suitable, the manuscript proceeds to the next stage.
Assignment to Reviewers: The editorial board selects experts in the field—typically researchers or academics with relevant expertise—to evaluate the manuscript. Reviewers are chosen based on their knowledge, impartiality, and absence of conflicts of interest. They will also include educators knowledgeable about the topic, particularly concerning practice.
Peer Review: Reviewers critically evaluate the manuscript based on several criteria, including originality, significance, methodology, interpretation of results, and adherence to ethical guidelines. They provide constructive feedback and may recommend acceptance, revision, or rejection.
Editorial Decision: After receiving reviewer feedback, the editorial board decides on the manuscript. This decision considers the reviewers’ comments, the manuscript’s quality, and its fit with the journal’s objectives. Possible outcomes include acceptance, acceptance with minor revisions, major revisions and resubmission, or rejection.
Author Notification: Authors receive the editorial board’s decision along with reviewers’ comments. For accepted manuscripts, this may include instructions for preparing the final version. Rejected manuscripts may be accompanied by constructive feedback to guide future revisions or submissions elsewhere.
Revision and Resubmission: If revisions are requested, authors revise their manuscript, addressing each point raised by the reviewers and editor. Upon resubmission, the revised manuscript may undergo further review to ensure the revisions adequately address concerns.
Final Decision: The editorial board evaluates the revised manuscript and decides whether it meets the journal’s standards for publication. Once accepted, the manuscript moves toward publication in the journal.
Throughout this process, confidentiality is maintained to uphold the integrity of the peer review system. Reviewers provide feedback anonymously to encourage impartial evaluation, while editors oversee the process to ensure fairness and consistency. The goal of peer review is not only to uphold academic standards but also to foster scholarly discourse and advancement in knowledge.
Blind Review
The journal will evaluate submitted manuscripts by experts/educators in the field who remain anonymous to the authors. This process ensures impartiality and fairness by preventing biases based on the authors’ identities or affiliations. Reviewers assess the quality, validity, and significance of the research, providing constructive feedback to help improve the manuscript before a final decision on publication is made by the journal’s editorial team.
Training of Reviewers
All manuscript reviewers will undergo comprehensive training on the review process. This training ensures that our reviewers have the necessary skills and guidelines to conduct thorough and constructive evaluations of submitted manuscripts. By standardizing our review practices through training, we aim to maintain high standards of rigor, fairness, and quality in the peer review process, ultimately contributing to the integrity and credibility of published research in our journal.