2025 Schools of
the Future
Conference

The Student Call for Proposals Is NOW OPEN!

Student Call for Proposals Overview

The Schools of the Future Conference will once again include student presentations as part of the conference offerings. Proposals will be accepted for both in-person and pre-recorded presentations, which will be made available as part of a digital program accessible only to registered SOTF attendees.

The purpose of student presentations is to give students the opportunity to "teach the teachers." Student proposals should address best teaching practices and should inspire thinking about learning from the student's perspective. All proposals can include up to four students and must include one teacher who will serve as an advisor and point person.

The primary contact or teacher responsible for the student group is responsible for securing all necessary permissions and adhering to their school or organization's policies and procedure for student participation in this event.

Deadline to Apply: Tuesday, September 2, 2025, 12 PM
Notifications will be sent by: Monday, September 8, 2025
Schools need to respond with acceptances by: Friday, September 12, 2025
Registration and subsequent required forms need to be submitted by: Friday, September 26, 2025

We encourage all interested students/schools to utilize the Student Call For Proposal Planning Document to guide them on their proposal journey.

Submitting a Student Proposal

A Proposal Planning Template has been created to assist with the submission process. The template should not be used to submit a proposal; rather, it is meant as a tool to help plan and draft your proposal. Please download or make a copy of this document to use for your planning purposes. When you are ready to submit your proposal, please do so via the official SOTF Student Proposal Submission Form.

The deadline to submit a proposal has been extended to April 4, 2025 and notifications will be sent in early May 2025.

Conference Tracks:

The Schools of the Future Conference explores a wide range of topics and ideas. Program tracks are offered as a means of illuminating content that is of most interest to attendees. Session proposals can be submitted in one of the conference tracks listed below, but can encompass a wide-range of topics. For sessions that may fall under multiple tracks, please submit the proposal under the best-fitting track.

Each presentation track offers general guidelines and keywords that best represent the interests of this year's conference. These guidelines are offered to assist and are by no means limitations.

Early Childhood Learning
Presentations in this track should be designed for educators of preschool through grade 3, focusing on the latest trends and research in early childhood education. Presentations should combine practical insights and innovative strategies for child development and can include topics like: emergent literacy, and play-based learning, inclusive education and technology integration in early learning environments.

Cognitive Diversity/Learner Variabilities
This track focuses on embracing cognitive diversity, offering a deep dive into learning differences, differentiated and personalized learning approaches, and Universal Design for Learning principles. It aims to equip educators with strategies and insights into brain science that enhance learning accessibility for all students. Presentations might explore innovative methods to cater to diverse learning needs, ensuring every student's unique learning style is acknowledged and supported in educational environments.

Project and Place-Based Learning
Sessions in this track should aim to advance PBL practices by exploring the knowledge and skills needed to create, assess, and manage high-quality, authentic Project/Inquiry/Problem-Based Learning. Attendees will explore innovative PBL methods and strategies, aiming to deepen student engagement and foster real-world connections. This track is ideal for educators seeking to enrich their curriculum with dynamic, experiential learning opportunities.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
This track aims to explore and share best practices and strategies for effective SEL implementation in various educational settings. Participants will delve into current research and evidence that highlight the impact and benefits of SEL on students' academic performance and overall well-being. The track will provide educators with actionable insights on integrating SEL into curriculum and school culture, emphasizing the development of emotional intelligence, resilience, and positive student-teacher relationships.

Teaching and Learning with Technology
This track will explore resources and strategies for transforming teaching and learning through communication, information, and technological tools. Sessions for this track should explore and showcase approaches to integrating technology in an effort to promote student empowerment, innovative design, creative communicators, and global contributors.

Computer Science
This track will focus on computer science and computational thinking for all levels of teaching. Presentation topics may include (but are not limited to) classroom practices, cross-curricular integration, physical computing, robotics, cybersecurity, and emerging areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), data science, and Esports. Alignment to the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) professional development standards for K-12 computing is encouraged.

Cultivating Peace, Civic Engagement, and Democracy
This track, guided by the value of kuleana (responsibility), aims to promote peace through education, awareness, and advocacy. It will equip educators with the tools to foster ʻike pono (an understanding of what is right) and cultivate lōkahi (unity and harmony) within their classrooms and communities. Sessions will explore strategies that encourage productive civic participation rooted in respect and shared responsibility.

Effective Educational Practices
This track serves as a comprehensive platform for educators and administrators to explore and share a wide range of best practices in teaching and learning. It is designed to encapsulate the breadth and depth of effective educational strategies, covering essential topics such as student engagement, enhancing school culture and climate, innovative assessment strategies, and transformative approaches to student learning. Presentations may include subject and curricular areas as a unique opportunity for professionals to showcase their expertise, exchange ideas, and collaborate on the development and implementation of impactful teaching methods.

Presentation Formats:

Presentations (1 Hour)
These sessions are an hour long and will take place during the in-person conference. They can be a more traditional, seated audience presentation or an Interactive lecture involving participant-engaged learning experiences.

Workshops (1 Hour and 30 Minutes)
These sessions should offer an In-depth exploration of a topic over the course of a 1 hour and 30 minutes-long session, during the in-person conference. Workshop sessions provide for a deeper dive exploration of a particular topic, resource, or tool. They should be dynamic and engaging, where attendees are actively engaged in activities and/or discussions.

Pre-Recorded Presentations (up to 1-hour long)
If you are already submitting a proposal to present at the conference, consider also submitting a pre-recorded version of it. Pre-recorded presentations will be recorded and submitted ahead of the conference. They can be any length of time but should not exceed an hour. A TedTalk format is ideal for these sessions. Pre-recorded presentations will be made available to registered attendees along with a selection of keynote and featured speaker recordings. Recordings will not be downloadable or shareable and will only be accessible for 3 months following the conference.

Recordings will be due September 30, 2025.
Please follow instructions outlined for Pre-Recorded Sessions.