Article I: Name

The name of the organization is Tracking and Detracking (SIG/Tracking and Detracking).

Article II: Affiliation

The organization, Tracking and Detracking, is a Special Interest Group (SIG) of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and, as such, pays annual dues to AERA and participates in the AERA annual meeting.

Article III: Governing Authority

The Special Interest Group (SIG), Tracking and Detracking, shall be governed by the bylaws and articles of incorporation of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Our SIG's bylaws shall not conflict with the bylaws and articles of incorporation of AERA.

Article IV: Purpose

The purpose of the Special Interest Group (SIG), Tracking and Detracking, is to engage teachers, administrators, teacher educators, researchers, policymakers and community members in a continuing dialogue about tracking and detracking. The SIG will also serve as a clearinghouse to disseminate research on tracking and detracking as well as to exchange ideas and information on strategies and best practices in detracking schools.

Article V: Membership

Section 1 - Eligibility. Membership in SIG/Tracking and Detracking shall be open to any dues-paid AERA member who supports the purpose of the organization and who pays the specified SIG dues.

Section 2 - Duration. AERA members may join SIG/Tracking and Detracking by paying SIG/Tracking and Detracking dues through the AERA Central Office using the appropriate AERA form. AERA members may join SIG/Tracking and Detracking at any time, but SIG/Tracking and Detracking membership expires coterminously with a given AERA membership. SIG/Tracking and Detracking membership may be for either 1 or 2 years, but members joining SIG/Tracking and Detracking for 2 years must coterminously be members of AERA for 2 years.

Section 3 - Voting Rights. All SIG/Tracking and Detracking members in good standing, fully paid in SIG dues, shall be entitled to vote for SIG/Tracking and Detracking officers.

Section 4 - Dues. The amount of SIG/Tracking and Detracking dues may be modified by a majority of the SIG/Tracking and Detracking members voting by email or at the annual SIG/Tracking and Detracking business meeting held during the AERA annual meeting.

Article VI: Officers

Section 1 - General. Officers of SIG/Tracking and Detracking shall be elected by a majority of SIG members voting either at the SIG business meeting by paper ballot or prior to the AERA annual meeting by email ballot. The elected officers shall comprise the Executive Committee of SIG/Tracking and Detracking and shall conduct all business of the SIG in the interim between the annual business meetings.

Section 2 - Eligibility. All members in good standing of both AERA and SIG/Tracking and Detracking shall be eligible for election as officers.

Section 3 - Terms. The term of each office shall be for three years, expiring at the end of the year's annual AERA meeting. No person may serve in any single office for more than 2 consecutive terms.

Section 4 - Offices. The following offices shall compose the executive committee of SIG/Tracking and Detracking: 1) Chairperson; 2) Program Chair; 3) Membership Chair; 4) Treasurer/Secretary; 5) Web Manager. Persons to assist these officers or to carry out other work of the SIG may be appointed by the Chairperson.

Section 5 - Election Procedures. Before the final year of the officers' three-year term, the Chairperson will present a slate of candidates to the SIG/Tracking and Detracking members by email. Election will take place either at the SIG business meeting at the AERA annual meeting or via email balloting. Election shall require a majority of votes cast; a tie vote shall be broken by a coin flip conducted at the AERA annual meeting by the Chairperson or in the Chairperson's absence a designee of the outgoing Executive Committee.

Article VII: Duties of Officers

Section 1 - Chairperson. The Chairperson shall be responsible for the general administration of the SIG and act as liaison between the SIG and AERA. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee and at the annual business meeting. The Chairperson will write and update, as necessary, a draft of the bylaws of the SIG, which will be voted on by members. The Chair will communicate regularly with the SIG's officers.

Section 2 - Program Chair. The program chair manages all aspects of the online submission process for our "substantive" sessions at the Annual Meeting. In addition, the program chair will develop criteria for the review process, which will be voted on by members at the SIG business meeting.

Section 3 - Membership Chair. The membership chair will work to increase membership in our SIG.

Section 4 - Treasurer/Secretary. The treasurer/secretary shall be responsible for the safe keeping of all financial documents and any official correspondence and meeting minutes of the SIG.

Section 5 - Web Manager. The web manager will manage a website for our SIG.

Article VIII: Meetings

Section 1 - Annual Meetings. There shall be a SIG/Tracking and Detracking business meeting held each year in conjunction with the AERA annual meeting. Arrangements for the time and place of this meeting are the responsibility of the Program Chair.

Article IX: Ratification and Amendments

Section 1 - Ratification. These bylaws shall take effect upon a two-thirds vote of those members voting at a duly called business meeting or a two-thirds of the membership vote by email ballot.

Section 2 - Amendments. These bylaws may be amended by two-thirds of those members voting at either the annual business meeting or by email. All proposed amendments must be submitted for review by the Executive Committee at least 7 days prior to the annual business meeting or be posted on email for 7 days.

Article X: Discontinuation

In the event that the purpose of SIG/Tracking and Detracking is fulfilled by another organization or it is unable to maintain membership in AERA, the organization may be discontinued by a vote requiring approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the SIG. Should SIG/Tracking and Detracking discontinue, its assets shall be used to pay all outstanding debts and obligations. Any remaining funds shall be donated to the American Educational Research Association.