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Aims & Scope

Submission Types

The IALS Journal welcomes multiple submission types, including research articles, practitioner essays, and more. All submissions undergo peer review by a team of scholars and practitioners from across the laboratory school community.

Research Articles
The IALS Journal, a refereed journal, publishes articles that contribute to the knowledge and understanding of laboratory and university affiliated schools and other significant educational issues. Most articles focus on research, innovation, or opinion. The subjects most often addressed are teaching techniques; administrative concerns; functions, history, and the future of laboratory schools; innovations in curriculum and program; teacher education; student growth and development; and philosophical topics. Manuscript Guidelines

Practitioner Perspectives Essay
The Practitioner Perspective section of the IALS Journal provides a space for educators and leaders working in laboratory schools to share insights from practice. IALS recognizes that laboratory schools are places where innovation emerges directly from day-to-day teaching, leadership, and collaboration. These essays should highlight the experiences of educators who are experimenting with new ideas, implementing creative instructional strategies, building partnerships with universities, or designing unique learning opportunities for students. These essays focus on reflective practice and do not need to feature traditional research methods.

IALS in Practice
IALS in Practice is a section of the IALS Journal dedicated to short responses that connect previously published articles to current work in laboratory schools. This section invites educators, researchers, and leaders to reflect on how ideas from the journal are being interpreted, implemented, or debated within real laboratory school contexts. Responses may highlight how a published article has influenced practice, extend a conversation introduced in a previous issue, or offer a thoughtful perspective on the implications of an author’s work. It is in this space that we link scholarship and practice by highlighting how educators are actively applying, questioning, and building upon the work shared through the IALS Journal.

Student Voices
Student Voices is a section of the IALS Journal dedicated to highlighting the perspectives and experiences of students who learn within laboratory schools. As places designed to explore innovative teaching, learning, and school structures, laboratory schools are uniquely positioned to center student voice as an essential component of educational inquiry. The IALS journal invites essays written by students that reflect on their learning experiences, participation in innovative programs, or involvement in research, design, and collaborative projects within their laboratory school communities. These reflections might highlight meaningful projects, interdisciplinary learning experiences, partnerships with universities, or moments when students saw themselves as contributors to knowledge and innovation.