Call for Annual Conference Session Proposals

“The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is seeking conference session proposals to share and highlight the exemplary work by state boards on critical education issues at its Annual Conference, October 26-28, 2026 , in Baltimore, Maryland! What Is the NASBE Annual Conference? NASBE’s Annual Conference empowers state board members to leverage their role as citizen leaders in education. Attended by state board members from across the nation, it is the only conference designed specifically for state board members. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from renowned subject-matter experts and reflect on how the information shared can help state boards lead during this pivotal time in public education, analyze research, evidence, and policy solutions that the state board can bring to bear on pressing challenges facing public education, gain insight into how state boards can leverage their role in the education ecosystem to improve student outcomes, and build relationships with peers in other states with whom they can share approaches for improving state education systems. Who Attends? The conference typically draws 150–200 attendees, most of whom are state board members. State education agency staff, advocates, researchers, policy experts, press, nonprofit representatives, and NASBE funders also attend. The NASBE conference is a tremendous opportunity to connect state education leaders, experts, and practitioners. What Makes a Successful Session? Board members are keen on learning the “why” and “how” behind policy changes and hearing directly from policymakers and practitioners engaged in the work. They value dynamic, interactive sessions that highlight multiple perspectives (including student and teacher voices) and provide strong evidence and concrete examples of best practices and action steps. Sessions led by or featuring state board members alongside researchers or other experts are also highly valued. If you would like help in connecting to state boards actively engaged in policy discussions relevant to your proposed session, please contact us. NASBE conference evaluations consistently give their highest ratings to interactive, engaging sessions on a relevant topic or problem of practice. We encourage you to incorporate a “turn and talk” to your session, where participants briefly discuss a specific topic with their neighbors, a small-group problem-solving exercise, panel reflections, or audience polling. State boards expect respectful, nonpartisan exchanges at our conference; all session presenters should strive for a collaborative, open, nonideological tone. What Types of Sessions Are Offered? The NASBE Annual Conference encompasses a variety of session formats to meet members’ needs, with most lasting no more than 60 minutes. NASBE will match your session proposal to the appropriate format and time frame. What Topics Are State Boards Eager to Learn About? Each year, NASBE surveys state board members to identify the most pressing issues on state board agendas in order to help frame the conference agenda. Proposals should align with at least one of the following strands, which reflect broad state board priorities. NASBE encourages crosscutting proposals that address multiple strands. Proposals that do not address any of these strands will not be considered. Artificial Intelligence and Education Technology Assessment and Accountability College and Career Readiness Curriculum and Instructional Materials Early Childhood and Elementary Education Education Governance and Boardsmanship Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Support High School Transformation Literacy Numeracy/Mathematics Education School Improvement Strategies Student Well-Being What Are Proposer and Presenter Responsibilities? Proposers of an accepted session must register all individuals who are delivering the session at the NASBE Annual Conference. Costs associated with attending—registration, travel, lodging, and meals—are the proposer’s responsibility. For the 2026 Annual Conference, NASBE offers a reduced registration for presenters ($650). To encourage student voices in education policy discussions, students who present or attend the conference will receive complimentary registration. Presenters are not provided with honoraria. For special circumstances, NASBE may, at its sole discretion, waive or reduce registration fees for a presenter if the cost of attending creates a hardship for the proposer. Presenters are expected to provide presentation materials in digital form, handouts, and/or follow-up materials for participants before, during, or after the event. NASBE staff may edit session titles and descriptions for clarity. Proposers and presenters will work with an assigned NASBE staff member before the conference to refine the session and ensure its success. When Are Proposals Due? Proposals must be submitted to our online platform by May 26, 2026 . Proposers will be notified by July 20, 2026, whether their proposals have been selected. How Are Proposals Selected? The process is highly competitive. Less than 30 percent of submitted proposals are selected. For 2026, there are approximately 12 to 15 available slots on the conference agenda. NASBE’s Conference Planning Committee and staff evaluate proposals based on these criteria: relevance to priority strands that also feature the actual work of state boards of education; session quality and qualifications of presenters and panelists; clear format and flow with that intentionally engages state board members and other audience participants in discussion. In sum, we seek a productive exchange of diverse perspectives that can create lasting channels for sharing evidence-based strategies and solutions. Submitters are encouraged to collaborate with their partners and state leaders to develop proposals that include diverse presenters and leverage a range of policy, practice, and research expertise. Sessions focused on one vendor’s product or service are discouraged, as are proposals with a strong ideological bent. Given the limited number of slots, accepted sessions featuring a presenter or group of presenters from a single organization will be limited to one per organization. Find last year’s agenda and sessions here. Session Proposal Guide 2026 Submit Your Proposal

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