Sphere Summit
2025 Sphere Summit
Freedom, Rights, and America’s 250th
Sphere Summit, a full scholarship professional development program for grades 5–12 educators, returns as a fully in‐person experience in Washington, DC.
Event Details
Dates and Times
Program
Sunday, June 29
Registration
Welcome Reception
Welcome Remarks
Keynote Address
Dinner
Afterglow
Monday, June 30
Breakfast
Policy Session: Rights and Speech from the Founding to Today
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops: Bringing Civic Culture to Your Classroom
Lunch
Policy Session: Executive Power Past and Present
Application Workshop
Refreshment Break
Policy Session: Taxation and What to Expect with the Expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Free Time
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program
Tuesday, July 1
Breakfast and Teacher Panel
Policy Session: Immigration Policy Under the Trump Administration
Free Time in Washington, DC
Policy Workshops
Session A: Human Progress
Session B: Understanding Each Other: The Life and Work of David Boaz
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
Sphere Education Initiatives: Leadership Toolkit
Free Time
Shuttle to Offsite Dinner
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program
Shuttle Back to Hotel
Wednesday, July 2
Breakfast
Members of Congress – Understanding Each Other
Policy Session: Major Cases of the Supreme Court Term
Sphere on the Road
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
- National Constitution Center
- Retro Report
Lunch
Policy Sessions: AI and Tech Policy
Session A: Energy and Environmental Policy
Session B: Criminal Justice
Refreshment Break
Application Workshop
Understanding Each Other: The Declaration at 250
Free Evening in Washington DC
Thursday, July 3
Brunch
Understanding Each Other – Language and Rhetoric
Sphere Content for the Classroom
Closing Remarks and Group Picture
Distribution of Certificates and Stipends
About
Sphere Summit, a full scholarship professional development program for grades 5–12 educators, returns as a fully in‐person experience in Washington, DC, and will run June 29 – July 3. Benefits include room and board, 20+ hours of professional development, classroom resources, and a $500 travel stipend upon completion of the program.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this Summit’s themes will explore the key ideas and principles articulated in that foundational American document. How have we succeeded or failed to live up to the promises of the Declaration? As we consider contemporary policy issues and challenges, how do those principles inform today’s debates?
Sphere Summit is a full scholarship summer program for grades 5–12 educators and administrators. Summit is open to teachers of all subject areas and disciplines as well as school leaders and administrators. Multiple educators from the same school or department are encouraged to apply together.
Sphere Summit features presentations by leading policymakers, scholars, and academics, who discuss key public policy issues facing our nation today. Topics covered include free speech, the health of our democracy, criminal justice reform, the economy, and many others. Summit also features professional development workshops conducted by leaders in civic education on how to bring these ideas into your classroom.
Sphere Summit aims to restore a spirit of civil, constructive, and respectful discourse and engagement and to return facts, analysis, and research to primacy as the vehicles for discussion and debate.
Program
Sunday, June 29
Registration
Welcome Reception
Welcome Remarks
Keynote Address
Dinner
Afterglow
Monday, June 30
Breakfast
Policy Session: Rights and Speech from the Founding to Today
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops: Bringing Civic Culture to Your Classroom
Lunch
Policy Session: Executive Power Past and Present
Application Workshop
Refreshment Break
Policy Session: Taxation and What to Expect with the Expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Free Time
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program
Tuesday, July 1
Breakfast and Teacher Panel
Policy Session: Immigration Policy Under the Trump Administration
Free Time in Washington, DC
Policy Workshops
Session A: Human Progress
Session B: Understanding Each Other: The Life and Work of David Boaz
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
Sphere Education Initiatives: Leadership Toolkit
Free Time
Shuttle to Offsite Dinner
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program
Shuttle Back to Hotel
Wednesday, July 2
Breakfast
Members of Congress – Understanding Each Other
Policy Session: Major Cases of the Supreme Court Term
Sphere on the Road
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
- National Constitution Center
- Retro Report
Lunch
Policy Sessions: AI and Tech Policy
Session A: Energy and Environmental Policy
Session B: Criminal Justice
Refreshment Break
Application Workshop
Understanding Each Other: The Declaration at 250
Free Evening in Washington DC
Thursday, July 3
Brunch
Understanding Each Other – Language and Rhetoric
Sphere Content for the Classroom
Closing Remarks and Group Picture
Distribution of Certificates and Stipends