2026 Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
2026 ELA Annual Conference
October 21–24, 2026
Embassy Suites Raleigh Durham Research Triangle
Cary, North Carolina
Call for Proposals Deadline Extended to April 17
Why Attend
Nestled in the heart of North Carolina, the Raleigh–Durham–Chapel Hill area offers the perfect backdrop for the 2026 Education Law Association Conference. Known as the “Research Triangle,” the region features top-tier universities, a thriving law and policy community, vibrant arts and food scenes, and miles of greenways.
The Embassy Suites Research Triangle is centrally located—less than 20 minutes from downtown Raleigh and Durham, and under 10 minutes from RDU Airport with a complimentary shuttle.
New for 2026: Enhanced Conference Platform
We’re introducing a new platform to make your experience simpler, clearer, and more connected. This year, ELA will use SCHED as the central hub for proposals, scheduling, communication, and the live conference program.
What You’ll Be Able to Do
- Submit proposals and receive acceptance notifications
- View a continuously updated conference program
- Access schedules on desktop, tablet, and mobile
- Search sessions by topic, presenter, or time
- Read session descriptions and presenter bios
- Build your personal schedule
- Connect with attendees and presenters
- Receive real-time updates and notifications
Important Dates
- Call for Proposals Opens: February 14
- Call for Proposals Closes: April 17 EXTENDED
- Conference Registration Opens: April 1
- Hotel Booking: Now Open
Additional updates and reminders will be shared as key dates approach.
Important Reminder
There are two systems involved:
- Conference Registration (ELA website)
- Conference Platform (SCHED)
Email addresses MUST match across both systems.
- The email used to submit proposals (including email addresses for co-presenters)
- The email used to register for the conference (the email address associated with your ELA profile)
If you are the lead presenter submitting the proposal, ensure your email address matches the email address you use to register for the conference. If you are the lead presenter and are including co-presenters, you must make sure that the email addresses you are filling in for your co-presenters will match the addresses they will register with - so please double-check with them before submitting your proposal.
If emails do not match exactly, sessions, speaker profiles, and registrations may not link correctly. Fixing mismatches later is difficult and may not be possible.
Additionally, if someone registers on your behalf, they must use your name and email address.