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Conference Justification Kit
Deeper Learning provides a professional learning experience like no other. Educators connect, inspire, build, imagine, reflect, and learn to make schools more student-centered, more meaningful, and more equitable. This year, your DL27 registration also unlocks the National Summit on Improvement in Education — two premier events for one investment. Need help making the case to come to San Diego this March? We’ve got you covered.
Below are tips and resources — including an email/letter template — you can use to make your case to your school, district, or organization to approve and fund your learning experience.
- Rationale for Attending DL27 (download and share with leadership)
- Estimated Cost Worksheet
- Sample Letter
- Band Together (gather a group of colleagues to ask together)
Creative Funding Options
We want all educators, leaders, and changemakers to experience DL27 + Summit 27, but know that registration and travel costs can be a barrier. Below are our recommendations for how you can fund your investment in two conferences for one ticket.
Either individually or with a team, make a case for how attending DL27 + Summit 27 will benefit not only your personal development but also your team or department. Present a proposal outlining the value you’ll bring back to the organization, and offer to host a lunch-and-learn to share the most important learnings.
Use Title II funds (federal dollars designated for professional development) to attend. These funds are typically managed at the district level and can support conference participation when it aligns with instructional priorities and school improvement goals. Connect with your school or district leadership early; share how DL27 + Summit 27 aligns with your professional goals and student outcomes; ask your administrator to explore using Title II funds on your behalf.
Many organizations offer grants that can support conference attendance as part of your professional learning.
- The NEA Foundation — Grants up to $5,000 to support educator-led projects that improve student learning.
- Fund for Teachers — $5,000 (individual) or $10,000 (team grants) for self-designed professional learning experiences.
- McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation — Up to $10,000 per year to support teacher-led growth and innovation.
Tips for success: frame DL27 + Summit 27 as part of a broader learning plan, connect your experience to student impact and classroom practice, and start early on application deadlines. You can also explore opportunities through GrantWatch.
Local foundations and community organizations often support educators working to strengthen schools. Even if you don’t see a perfect fit, many regional funders are open to conversation when proposals clearly connect to local impact.
Reach out to local businesses or corporate sponsors with a philanthropic arm in education. Offer to wear their logo, give them a shout-out on social media, or write a blog post highlighting their support.
Many educators effectively crowd-fund and leverage their school’s PTA. Outline the benefits of attending, emphasizing impact on teaching practice and student learning.
Some associations offer scholarships or grants to members. If you’re a member, find out if they’ll help cover your conference costs.
Pre-Conferences
DL 101
Session Types
Deep Dives — A signature DL conference experience. Deep Dives provide immersive experiences that aim to support you in experiencing deeper learning for yourself. Will you dive into outdoor education, explore the power of AI, or develop ways to engage families and students as agents of change?
Community Advisory — Intentional small-by-design sessions throughout the event create an opportunity to build relationships, process experiences from the event, and discuss, plan, and act toward the future. Your Deep Dive colleagues will become your small group for three sessions during the event.
Workshops — Two rounds of 90-minute workshops on Day 1 and Day 3 connect you with practitioners and highlight promising practices. Topics range from student agency, project-based learning, culturally responsive pedagogy, and school transformation.
Den Talks — Opportunities for attendees to engage in deep conversations on issues that matter in education. No slide decks, just real talk.
Summit Crossover Sessions — This year, your DL27 registration includes full access to the National Summit on Improvement in Education. The improvement community brings bold ideas, fast learning, and the practices that help good work spread across schools and systems. Sign up and attend Summit sessions any time you spot a topic that matters to your work — and join us for the joint opening event and closing keynote where both communities come together.
Selecting Sessions
When do we select sessions?
Sched Preview Week will start on February 24th, when you can look at the session descriptions and make a plan for sessions you are interested in. During this week, Sched will be view only. You’ll want to ensure you are able to log into your Sched during preview week so you are ready for session selection.
On March 3rd at 5pm Pacific Time, you may select your sessions. Sessions hold a maximum of 25 participants by design, so some will fill up quickly. You will want to have 3-4 options in mind in case your first choices are full. There will be no waitlists.
Why is the deep dive so long?
We believe that deeper learning requires time to build relationships, and fully engage with topics. Deep Dives offer participants a chance to go deeper, which may include research, reflection, creation, and collaboration. Some Deep Dives are project slices, where educators can experience a project as students, notice powerful teacher moves, and be inspired to transform your practice and schools. We recommend perusing the Deep Dive descriptions at preview week and selecting 3-4 options in case your first choices get filled quickly. Lunch is included with each deep dive.
“Love the structure of the Deep Dive day. Felt like it really gave me a chance to explore resources and learn more.” – DL25 Attendee
Why should I attend Community Advisory?
If we are to learn deeply together, we have to know one another. Community Advisory offers a glimpse into ways we design our schools to build relationships among students. Participants will experience opportunities to make connections with other attendees, reflect on their learning, and make a plan for bringing back some of the DL goodness to your contexts. Your advisory group will be the same as your Deep Dive group, so you will have multiple opportunities to connect and collaborate.
“One of the most impactful parts of the Deeper Learning Conference for me was the time spent in Community Advisory. It was comforting and grounding to have a “home base” to return to as we worked through our deep dives. That sense of consistency made a big difference, especially as we processed such deep and sometimes emotional work.” – DL25 Attendee
Link to Sched
Schedule Overview
Schedule Overview Photo
You can find the full Deeper Learning 2026 schedule on Sched.
Meals
LUNCH
March 31, Day 2
Your lunch schedule will be determined by your Deep Dive building location.
If your Deep Dive is at High Tech Middle, you will have lunch from 11:30-12:30.
If your Deep Dive is at High Tech High, you will have lunch from 12:30-1:30.
April 1, Day 3
Lunch will be served from 1:00-2:00, after our amazing closing event. If you are leaving early, you may pick up boxed lunches in front of the High Tech Elementary Gym starting at 11:00.
Meet Ups and Social Hashtags
Share your DL experience on social media! Follow us on your favorite platform and post the things delight, surprise, inspire, and make you reflect. Use the hashtags #DeeperLearning and #DL26
- Twitter: @hthgse
- Instagram: @hthgse
- Facebook: High Tech High Graduate School of Education
- LinkedIn: High Tech High Graduate School of Education
If you want to create a meet up group during the conference, simply post using #DeeperLearning, and invite others to join you. You might create a meet up to run along the waterfront in the morning, or meet up with fellow elementary educators at breakfast, or find other folks who are curious about continuous improvement during lunch. Don’t forget to include information about the date, time, and place for the meet up!
Campus Map
DL26 takes place across our Point Loma Campus. Registration and the Opening Event will take place at the High Tech High Graduate School of Education Forum (2150 Cushing Rd. San Diego). All other conference activities will take place at:
- The Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs High Tech High (HTH)
- High Tech Middle (HTM)
- The Forum
Bring your walking shoes and explore our Point Loma Campus! Don’t forget to bring sunscreen and an umbrella for our outdoor passing periods.
Building Maps
FAQ
What should I know about checking in at the event launch?
Registration opens at 11:45 am on March 30th at the parking lot for the High Tech High Graduate School of Education Forum (2150 Cushing Rd.). Before you arrive, ensure you have created a Sched profile and signed up for a deep dive session. There is early check in available from 4-6 pm on Sunday, March 29th at the High Tech High Graduate School of Education Forum.
What if I arrive late?
Late check-ins can get their badge from the late check in desk in the High Tech High Graduate School of Education parking lot from 12:15 to 2:15 and after that at the help desk at High Tech High.
Where do I go for help during the conference?
There is a help desk at High Tech Middle and High Tech High and registration and Sched support at the opening event. For those who need support with mobility, you may use our golf cart service to help you move between buildings.
There is another conference happening at the same time? Which buildings are Deeper Learning?
We are hosting the National Summit on Improvement in Education concurrently. Opening and closing events will take place at the High Tech High Graduate School of Education Forum. Deeper Learning sessions will take place at High Tech High (original) and High Tech Middle. Summit sessions will take place at High Tech High International and High Tech Elementary.
Are there any other conference experiences I should know about?
Connection Corridor in High Tech High provides a space for informal connections. This is the perfect spot to find new friends or meet up with old friends and a place where you can learn more about other ways to get involved in the deeper learning movement.
Create something with our Community Makers, located at lunch in the High Tech Middle. Harness your creativity and learn about our community makers.
The DL Marketplace provides you an opportunity to support the student run screen-printing program at High Tech High by purchasing awesome DL merch such as t-shirts and totes! You’ll also be able to purchase books by some of the Deeper Learning and National Summit on Improvement in Education presenters at the “self-serve” bookstore and through Myers Education Press. The Marketplace is located at the High Tech Elementary Gym.
What spaces do you offer for folks who need some time alone?
We invite you to use the outdoor space in the grassy field or the park by the waterfront for meditation, reflection, or naps. For nursing mothers, we offer a Lactation Room. Please inquire with staff for access.
HTHGSE Conference Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Registration opens at 1p on March 31st at the parking lot for the High Tech High Graduate School of Education Forum (2150 Cushing Rd.). Before you arrive, ensure you have created a Sched profile and signed up for a deep dive session.
There is a help desk at High Tech Middle and High Tech High and registration and Sched support at the opening event. Any late check-ins can get their badge from the help desk at the High Tech High.
Connection Corner in HTH provides a space for informal connections. Grab a seat, take some selfies at the selfie station, or mix and mingle! This is the perfect spot to find new friends or meet up with old friends.
Create something with our Community Makers, located by lunch on the HTH/HTM Promenade. Harness your creativity and learn about our community makers.
The DL Marketplace provides you an opportunity to support the student run screen-printing program at HTH by purchasing awesome DL merch such as t-shirts and totes! Find the marketplace at the High Tech Middle entry.
Find the Calm Corner at High Tech High (above the Gym entrance) for meditation, reflection, or naps. For nursing mothers, we offer a Lactation Room. Please inquire with staff for access.