COABE JOURNAL │CURRENT ISSUE | SUBMIT AN ARTICLE | JOURNAL ARCHIVES
The COABE Journal is a theme-oriented and practitioner-focused publication that is published semi-annually. The Fall 2025 edition will be produced in partnership with the National Governors Association (NGA), the bipartisan membership organization for our nation’s governors, and will be themed to amplify diverse voices and foster a richer understanding of how state-level governance can shape the future of adult education. The COABE Journal seeks contributions from governors, their advisors, state-level practitioners, and adult education professionals to share best practices, research, innovations, and reflections for the Fall 2025 edition, focusing on cooperative and coordinated efforts to advance adult learning and how state policy and models can transform adult education programs.
COABE serves educators who work with adults from various cultural, academic, vocational, and experiential backgrounds. This special edition welcomes contributions that explore the role of initiatives promoted by governors and state leaders for advancing adult education through effective policies, partnerships, and innovative models. Governors can harness resources and relationships that influence impactful programs, ranging from funding and workforce alignment to fostering collaboration across education, workforce, philanthropy, and community organizations. Submissions highlighting partnerships, unique initiatives, research, best practices, and reflections on state policy frameworks that align with and enhance the outcomes of adult education are encouraged.
Manuscripts will include an abstract that provides a clear overview of the unique aspects of the topic to be presented. Articles for consideration should focus on topics such as those listed below, follow the criteria for the type of article noted in the COABE Journal submission guidelines, and be formatted according to the style of the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Check here for general paper formatting, grammar, citation, and reference guidelines. Please review and apply the principles outlined in the COABE Journal Style Guide before submitting your article.
The submission deadline is May 12, 2025.
Suggested Topics:
Instructional Practices and Learner Engagement/Program Development and Innovations (Double-Anonymous Peer Review) submissions should focus on best innovative practices for engaging learners in instructional settings and/or programs with unique characteristics or innovative characteristics that yield exceptional adult learner outcomes. These articles should provide evidence of effectiveness and positive impact on adult learners so that administrators and practitioners can replicate such innovations in their practice. Authorship is limited to those who have made substantive contributions to the manuscript and should be capped at five. Submissions should range between 2,000 and 5,000 words.
Original Research and Theory to Practice (Double-Anonymous Peer Review) submissions include original quantitative and qualitative research and/or the effective integration of educational theory to practice. These pieces aim to inspire others to apply these findings and/or practices to their adult education settings or contexts. Authorship is limited to those who have made substantive contributions to the manuscript and should be capped at five. Submissions should range between 3,000 and 5,000 words.
Innovative/Effective Material Integration (Double-Anonymous Peer Review) submissions should focus on innovative or cutting-edge practices that integrate print, electronic, software, or other technologies that demonstrate effective student understanding and outcomes. Manuscripts should present concise overviews of the technologies/materials, including relevant publications, URLs, or other information for accessing the resource. Readers should be able to effectively integrate these materials into their adult education settings, expecting similar learner impact and outcomes. Authorship is limited to those who have made substantive contributions to the manuscript and should be capped at three. Submissions should range between 1,500 and 2,500 words.
Reflection Essays (Editorial Review) include thoughtful discussions on issues (societal, policy, political, theoretical, etc.) and their impact on adult education administrators, practitioners, learners, or other stakeholders. These pieces may be written in first-person narrative form to provoke thoughtful reflection in the reader. Authorship is limited to two. Submissions should range between 1,000 and 1,200 words.
Review Essays (Editorial Review) should discuss recently published books, instructional materials, or online instructional resources (websites, YouTube, TED Talks, etc.) that adult education administrators, practitioners, learners, or other stakeholders might find useful in their practice. These materials may include commercially available resources; however, such reviews should focus on the utility of the materials in adult education settings and should not be submitted by the resources’ author, an employee, or an affiliate of the project or publisher. Authorship is limited to two. Submissions should range between 800 and 1,200 words.
If you wish to submit a reflection piece, please contact [email protected] before you begin writing. This is an important step in the process.
Each submission should be written in APA 7th edition style format and also include
The submission deadline is May 12, 2025.