Illinois Democracy Schools Fall Convening
2026 Illinois Democracy Schools Fall Convening
Civic Ready. Future Ready.
Monday, September 21, 2026
Northern Illinois University – Naperville
Join educators, school leaders, students, and civic learning partners from across Illinois for the annual Illinois Democracy Schools Fall Convening—a day to celebrate what’s working, learn from one another, and grow what’s possible for civic learning in our schools.
This year’s theme, Civic Ready. Future Ready., explores an important idea: the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and experiences that prepare young people to participate in our constitutional democracy also help prepare them to thrive in school, the workplace, and their communities.
What to Expect
The Fall Convening is designed to be a day of learning with and from one another. Participants will have opportunities to:
- Explore research and promising practices in civic learning and schoolwide civic culture.
- Learn practical strategies that can be used across grade levels and content areas.
- Hear from educators and students about what civic learning looks like in practice.
- Examine connections between civic readiness and the skills young people need for college, career, and community life.
- Connect with colleagues from Illinois Democracy Schools and the growing Civic Mission Schools Network.
- Leave with ideas, resources, and next steps that can be put into practice back at school.
Featured Voices
The 2026 Convening will feature nationally recognized leaders in civic education, including:
- Dr. Jane C. Lo, Michigan State University — whose research explores civic education, political engagement, and the ways young people develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions for civic life.
- Dr. Joel Breakstone, Digital Inquiry Group — a leading voice in helping educators and students navigate today’s complex information environment and strengthen civic online reasoning.
- Dr. Shawn P. Healy, iCivics — a nationally recognized leader in civic education and advocate for strengthening high-quality civic learning opportunities for all students.
Throughout the day, their perspectives will be complemented by the voices and experiences of educators, students, and school leaders doing this work every day.
More Than a Social Studies Conference
Civic learning is a shared responsibility.
The Illinois Democracy Schools model recognizes that preparing young people for civic life happens anytime, everywhere in schools—in classrooms across disciplines, through extracurricular activities, in relationships between students and adults, and in the policies, practices, and culture of a school.
The Convening is designed for teachers across content areas, administrators, counselors and student-support professionals, instructional leaders, non-certified staff, and community partners who share an interest in creating schools where young people can learn, practice, and experience constitutional democracy.
Registration
Registration is now closed. Please reach out to Susan Khalaieff at skhalaieff@illinoiscivics.org if you have questions about your registration status or if there have been any cancellations that may allow you to attend.
Registration includes the full convening program, breakfast and lunch, parking, professional development hours, and access to convening resources.
Agenda at a Glance
| Time |
Program
|
| 7:30 AM
|
Doors Open & Breakfast
|
| 8:30 AM
|
Welcome & Opening Remarks
|
| 8:45 AM
|
Opening Plenary: Civic Ready. Future Ready.
|
| 9:35 AM
|
Welcome of New Illinois Democracy Schools
|
| 10:00 AM
|
Breakout Session 1
|
| 10:50 AM
|
Break & Transition
|
| 11:00 AM
|
Breakout Session 2
|
| 11:50 AM
|
Lunch & Presentation of Awards
|
| 12:45 PM | Breakout Session 3 |
| 1:35 PM |
Break & Transition
|
| 1:45 PM
|
Breakout Session 4
|
| 2:35 PM
|
Dismissal
|