Application Deadline: June 30, 2026
Award Overview
The National Rural Education Association is proud to sponsor the Edward W. Chance Memorial Rural Education Dissertation Award, which recognizes doctoral research that makes a significant contribution to rural education and addresses issues of current concern. The Award is funded by the Chance family through the NREA Foundation.
Dissertation research considered for the 2026 Award may include any study relative to PK-12 education that specifically addresses issues related to rural schools, which was completed between January 2025 and June 2026. The Edward W. Chance Dissertation Award includes a $500.00 cash stipend.
The recipient of the Outstanding Dissertation Award will be honored at an awards ceremony during the 2026 National Forum to Advance Rural Education in San Antonio, TX. In addition, the Outstanding Dissertation Award recipient will be invited to submit a publication based on his/her research to The Rural Educator, NREA’s nationally peer-reviewed journal.
Application Process
Application Deadline: June 30, 2026
Submissions should be submitted in electronic form using MS Word and should not exceed 20 pages of double-spaced text in 12-point font (excluding cover page, references, and appendices).
Applicants should prepare the following for their submissions:
- General information (to be put into the form):
- a.) Author’s Name
- b.) Dissertation Advisor
- c.) Institutional Affiliation
- d.) Author’s Address
- e.) Author Phone Numbers
- f.) Author’s E-Mail
- g.) Degree Completion Date
- Summary of Dissertation Research (not to exceed 20 pages) includes the following information:
- a.) Background of Study
- b.) Problem Statement
- c.) Significance of Study
- d.) Research Questions
- e.) Methodology
- f.) Findings
- g.) Conclusions
- h.) References
- i.) Appendices
