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The Call for Proposals is now open for 7th annual virtual Rural Education Conference, scheduled for March 22, 2027. The conference is free to attend and completely online!
Deadline for proposal submission: Dec. 1, 2026
Submit Your Proposal
Overview
Theme: Real Challenges, Rural Solutions
Format: Live Virtual Conference (+ Pre-Recorded Sessions)
Date: March 22, 2027
Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Central Time
The Austin Peay State University Center for Rural Education invites educators, school
and district leaders, researchers, community partners, policymakers, and pre-service
educators to submit session proposals for the 2027 Real Challenges, Rural Solutions Conference.
Rural schools are meeting complex challenges with creativity, resilience, and strong
connections to the communities they serve. This conference will bring together people
who are advancing practical, research-informed, and locally responsive solutions for
rural students, educators, schools, and communities.
We are seeking interactive, relevant, and action-oriented proposals that offer attendees
strategies, tools, examples, research, or partnerships they can adapt within their
own rural contexts.
Conference Strands
Innovative Teaching, Learning, and Engagement
Share approaches that make learning more meaningful, engaging, personalized, and future-ready
for rural students.
Possible topics include:
- Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in rural classrooms
- Digital learning, instructional innovation, and differentiated instruction
- Student engagement, motivation, attendance, and belonging
- Project-based, career-connected, or authentic learning
- Strategies for addressing student apathy and strengthening student voice
- Classroom practices that connect learning to students’ lives, goals, and communities
Rural Educator and Leadership Capacity
Highlight ways rural schools can recruit, retain, support, and empower educators and
leaders.
Possible topics include:
- Teacher recruitment, retention, mentoring, and induction
- Grow-your-own programs, teacher residencies, and educator pipelines
- Professional learning communities and job-embedded professional development
- Educator well-being, support, and sustainability
- School and district leadership for innovation and change
- Building collaborative, resilient, student-centered school cultures
Community, Place, and Opportunity
Explore how schools can use the strengths of rural places, people, and partnerships
to expand opportunities for students and communities.
Possible topics include:
- Place-based and community-centered learning
- School partnerships with local businesses, industry, nonprofits, and higher education
- Grant opportunities, resource development, and sustainable funding
- Rural workforce development and career pathways
- Community engagement and family partnerships
- Curriculum and learning experiences grounded in local history, culture, assets, and
needs
Proposal Expectations
We encourage proposals that:
- Address a real challenge facing rural schools or communities.
- Present a practical solution, promising practice, research finding, program model,
or partnership approach.
- Include strategies that attendees can apply or adapt to their own settings.
- Engage participants through discussion, collaboration, demonstration, reflection,
or hands-on learning.
- Reflect the distinctive strengths, needs, and opportunities of rural education.
Who Should Submit
Proposals are welcome from:
- Teachers and instructional coaches
- School and district administrators
- Higher education faculty, researchers, and students
- Community organizations and industry partners
- Education policymakers and nonprofit leaders
- Pre-service educators and emerging rural education leaders
Proposals Should Include
- Selected conference strand
- A brief session description for the conference program
- Learning objectives or takeaways for participants
- Proposed session format and length
- A description of how the session will engage participants
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