What If?
Imagining What’s Next In Education
The Education Leadership Conference Returns on April 16th, 2026!
Every meaningful change in education began with a simple question: what if? What if learning could be more personal, more inclusive, more connected to the world beyond the classroom? What if the barriers we’ve accepted as permanent could be reimagined? What If? is a conference designed to ignite curiosity, challenge assumptions, and turn bold possibilities into real-world practice. Join educators, innovators, and thought leaders as we explore how creativity, equity, and emerging technologies can shape the future of classrooms, campuses, and communities. Together, we’ll move from wondering to doing, and imagine what’s next when we dare to ask what if.
Our theme for this year’s conference is What If? Imagining What’s Next in Education, where we will be asking what becomes possible when we dare to question the way things have always been done. Join us as we explore the strategies K-12 leaders are using to imagine bold, equitable, and future-ready approaches to teaching and learning.
What If?
THE CONFERENCE: April 17, 2026
The conference will feature 2 keynotes and 6 panel discussions: To be announced
TICKETS AND REGISTRATION
Early bird registration for the conference closed February 28, 2027. Regular admission will close April 10, 2027. Please see below for ticket prices:
General - Early Bird: $60
General - Regular Admission: $100
Location
Join us in-person for this year's conference at the Yale School of Management’s Evans Hall (165 Whitney Avenue) in New Haven, Connecticut. Named among the 52 must-visit destinations worldwide in 2023 by The New York Times, New Haven sets the stage for an inspiring and enriching conference experience. Press here for more information on how to get to the conference.
Our Mission
The Yale School of Management Education Leadership Conference seeks to create a constructive dialogue about how leadership skills applied to the education sector can be used to solve the most pressing and complex challenges in education.
Learn more about our history and prior conferences.
Past ELC in Numbers
15
years hosting the ELC
Challenging leaders to think critically about the biggest questions facing education.
10+
Panels and workshops aNNUALLY
Engage in discussions and connect with other professionals across a diverse range of topics through panels, interactive sessions, workshops, and expos.
200+
ATTENDEES annually
Each year our attendees represent leaders affecting education outcomes at all levels, from the community and classroom to state and federal education policy professionals.
A special thank you to our 2026 sponsors, without whom our event would not be possible.
The Education Leadership Conference is a student-led conference at the Yale School of Management. Please follow our socials below!