Present at ISTELive 26

ISTE helps educators worldwide use technology as a catalyst for innovative solutions to education’s greatest challenges. We invite proposals from educators at all career stages, backgrounds, and locations. We especially encourage student participation in presentations!

We also welcome submissions from solution providers that focus on the broader impact of technology on education (rather than specific product promotion). While we do offer opportunities for product demonstrations and commercial content at the event, we encourage program proposals that align with our mission of transforming education. We may contact submitters to offer alternative presentation opportunities if their content is better suited for other event components.

The Call for Participation for ISTELive 26, June 28-July 1 in Orlando, is open and online! Submit your session idea by October 6, 2025.

How to Create a Proposal That Stands Out

Be bold. Within your proposal share innovative and pedagogical knowledge from your own personal experience.
Be future-focused. Choose a trending topic and push the boundaries of current knowledge.
Inspire. Empower educators and students to explore and learn new strategies.
Engage. Encourage active participation and model best practices. Be so captivating that your audience will leave energized.
Show, don't tell. Demonstrate creative applications of technology and invite the audience to join.
Advocate for equity. Share the importance of application and access to meet the needs of all learners.
Be inclusive. Choose co-presenters who represent diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.
Be objective. Sell an idea, not a product or brand.
Innovate. Share your instructional ideas and model innovation across education.

Need Help Getting Started?

Download our submission guide for tips and examples, or check out our FAQs for additional information.

You can always email us at conf-program@iste.org with any questions about how to make your proposal shine.

Not Ready to Present a Full Session or Don’t Have a Specific Topic?

If you’d love to contribute to the ISTELive 26 program but don’t have a passion project or you want to see what inspires you this school year, there may still be a role for you!

Current Opportunity

Tell us a bit about yourself and your professional expertise, and you could be asked to participate in a playground at the conference.

The ISTE+ASCD program team or playground coordinators will reach out if a playground topic fits your profile.

There is no fee to submit a proposal. We seek ideas from educators at all levels and from all parts of the world.
Access your presenter portal to manage proposal submissions.
All adult presenters must register to attend the conference in-person or online.
Student presenters who are under 18 and listed on an accepted session are not required to register.
Get more details about presenting.
You may submit up to 5 proposals.

ISTELive+ASCD Annual 25 Acceptance Rates

Format	# Submitted	# Accepted	Acceptance Rate
Innovator Talk	631	182	28.8%
Interactive Session	875	259	29.6%
Idea Lab	381	109	28.6%
Model Lesson	116	11	9.5%
Panel	85	17	20.0%
Poster	534	394	73.8%
Research Paper	89	44	49.4%
Turbo Talk	184	104	56.5%
Total	2,895	1,120	38.7%

Suggest a Mainstage Presenter

Know of a visionary you’d like to see at a future ISTE+ASCD conference? We’re looking for Mainstage presenters who inspire our passion for learning.

Our Mainstage presenters are individuals from any field, including education, who bring fresh perspectives to our audience in new and exciting ways.

Catch our attention by:

Thinking outside the box. ISTELive isn’t your typical education conference.
Keeping it simple. Make your case briefly, concisely and with gusto.
Sharing examples. Link to videos and articles about your suggested speaker.
Offering diverse viewpoints. Tell us how your suggestion inspires, informs and broadens the perspective and practice of all educators.

Don’t be shy — if you’ve got a burning message to share, feel free to recommend yourself!

Suggestions are reviewed continuously. The Mainstage team will reach out to your suggested speaker if they fit the conference theme.

Stay Informed

Be among the first to hear when the Call for Participation opens each year by completing the form below.