Sphere Summit
2026 Sphere Summit
Cultivating Curiosity, Openness, and Civil Discourse in Every Classroom
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
Location
Cato Institute 1000 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001Program
Sunday, July 19
Registration
Welcome Reception
Welcome Remarks
Dinner
Keynote Address: To Be Announced
Afterglow
Monday, July 20
Breakfast
Policy Session: Rights and Speech from the Founding to Today
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops: Bringing Civic Culture to Your Classroom
Lunch
Policy Session: Criminal Justice
Policy Session: Taxation
Refreshment Break
Application Workshop
Free Time
Shuttle to Offsite Dinner
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program: To Be Announced
Shuttle Back to Hotel
Tuesday, July 21
Breakfast and Documentary: Fulfilling the Promise
Teacher Panel: Teaching and Learning the Declaration
Free Time in Washington, D.C.
Resume Workshop
Pre‐regisrration required
Policy Workshops: Immigration
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
- National Constitution Center
Free Time
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program: To Be Announced
Afterglow
Wednesday, July 22
Breakfast
Understanding Each Other
Policy Session: Major Cases of the Supreme Court Term
Sphere on the Road
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
Lunch
Policy Sessions:
Session A: AI and Tech Policy
Session B: Economic Policy
Policy Sessions
Session A: Human Progress
Session B: Defense and Foreign Policy
Refreshment Break
Application Workshop
Understanding Each Other: Health of our Democracy
Free Evening in Washington, D.C.
Thursday, July 23
Brunch
Understanding Each Other – Language and Rhetoric
Sphere Content
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 July 19 – July 23. Benefits include room and board, 20+ hours of professional development, classroom resources, and a $500 travel stipend upon completion of the program.
The challenge of polarization reaches all subject areas and disciplines in schools, making civil discourse all the more difficult. This Summit explores the key roles all educators play in creating a culture of civil discourse in school, enabling students to thrive in an environment that promotes curiosity and openness.
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, July 19
Registration
Welcome Reception
Welcome Remarks
Dinner
Keynote Address: To Be Announced
Afterglow
Monday, July 20
Breakfast
Policy Session: Rights and Speech from the Founding to Today
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops: Bringing Civic Culture to Your Classroom
Lunch
Policy Session: Criminal Justice
Policy Session: Taxation
Refreshment Break
Application Workshop
Free Time
Shuttle to Offsite Dinner
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program: To Be Announced
Shuttle Back to Hotel
Tuesday, July 21
Breakfast and Documentary: Fulfilling the Promise
Teacher Panel: Teaching and Learning the Declaration
Free Time in Washington, D.C.
Resume Workshop
Pre‐regisrration required
Policy Workshops: Immigration
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
- National Constitution Center
Free Time
Reception
Dinner
Dinner Program: To Be Announced
Afterglow
Wednesday, July 22
Breakfast
Understanding Each Other
Policy Session: Major Cases of the Supreme Court Term
Sphere on the Road
Refreshment Break
Application Workshops
Lunch
Policy Sessions:
Session A: AI and Tech Policy
Session B: Economic Policy
Policy Sessions
Session A: Human Progress
Session B: Defense and Foreign Policy
Refreshment Break
Application Workshop
Understanding Each Other: Health of our Democracy
Free Evening in Washington, D.C.
Thursday, July 23
Brunch
Understanding Each Other – Language and Rhetoric
Sphere Content
Closing Remarks and Group Picture
Distribution of Certificates and Stipends