This December, the social studies world is coming to Illinois!

The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Annual Conference will be held December 4–6, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. For Illinois educators, having the nation’s premier social studies conference in our own backyard creates some unique opportunities—not only to attend, but also to volunteer, present, connect, and showcase the incredible work happening in classrooms across our state.

Here are three ways Illinois educators can get involved.

1. Volunteer at NCSS—and Save on Registration

Want to experience a national conference from the inside while making it more affordable?

Illinois educators are invited to join the local team helping welcome social studies educators from across the country to Chicago. Volunteer opportunities include session support and room monitoring, registration assistance, directional support, and conference operations.

Volunteers can receive reduced or complimentary conference registration, depending on their level of service. It is also a great way to connect with educators from across the country and get a behind-the-scenes look at a national conference.

The opportunity is open to Illinois K–12 teachers, pre-service teachers, instructional coaches, and social studies leaders.

Interested in volunteering? Complete the NCSS Chicago volunteer interest form:
Volunteer for NCSS 2026 in Chicago

2. Put Illinois Social Studies on the National Stage

There is also a special opportunity for Illinois educators to present their work to a national and international audience.

The Illinois Council for the Social Studies (ICSS) is partnering with NCSS to host Social Studies 365: Illinois Perspectives, a two-day conference-within-a-conference on December 4–5 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

ICSS is seeking 45-minute session proposals that highlight how Illinois and Midwestern educators bring social studies to life every day. Proposals might showcase innovative teaching practices, successful lessons, classroom resources, primary source analysis, inquiry and questioning, AI, culturally responsive teaching, difficult conversations, Illinois Social Science Standards, technology integration, or another idea worth sharing.

This is our chance to show educators from around the country what Social Studies 365 looks like in Illinois—from Galena to Cairo, Quincy to Charleston, Chicago to East St. Louis, and everywhere in between.

The proposal deadline is Sunday, August 23, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CDT. Presenters whose proposals are accepted must register for the NCSS Annual Conference.

To apply click the link here: Session Application 

Not ready for a full session? Consider joining a panel.

ICSS is also seeking participants for two special panels:

• Bridging Research to Practice: Recent Research in Illinois — connecting current Illinois research with practical applications for PK–12 educators.
• Illinois Social Studies Standards and Instructional Mandates: Social Studies 365 — highlighting how educators are navigating Illinois standards and mandated units of instruction through practical classroom strategies and experiences.

Panel nominations are also due August 23.

To apply click the link here: Panel Application 

If you have something that is working in your classroom, school, district, university, or community, this is the year to share it.

3. Come Learn—and Take Advantage of Chicago

Of course, you don’t have to volunteer or present to be part of NCSS 2026. You can simply come and learn!

A national conference provides access to educators, scholars, organizations, classroom resources, and ideas from across the country—all without Illinois educators having to purchase a plane ticket.

And because the conference is in Chicago, there will be opportunities to extend professional learning beyond the walls of the Hyatt.

We especially encourage Illinois educators to explore the pre-conference learning opportunities connected with the Obama Presidential Center as conference registration and programming become available.

Visit the National Council for the Social Studies website for conference registration, pre-conference opportunities, program information, and updates.

Chicago Is Our Chance to Show What Illinois Social Studies Can Do

National conferences don’t come to our backyard very often.

December gives Illinois educators an opportunity to learn from colleagues across the country—but it also gives us an opportunity to welcome them to our state, share our classrooms and communities, and highlight the innovative work Illinois educators are doing every day.

Volunteer. Present. Participate. Learn. Connect.

However you choose to be involved, we hope Illinois educators will turn out in force for NCSS 2026 in Chicago, December 4–6.

Let’s make sure the national social studies community sees what Social Studies 365 looks like in Illinois.

August Newsletter link is here. 

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