The Center For Literacy & Learning

2026 Information

What are the Topics?

Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning® attendees can expect to leave more informed about numerous subjects affecting education, including:

Adolescent Literacy
Assessment and Data
Coaching
Comprehension
Dyslexia
English Language Learners
Equity & Inclusion
Fluency
Learning Differences
Leadership
Parent, Family & Community Engagement
Phonics
Phonological Awareness
Policy
Research
RTI
Spelling
Trauma/Social Emotional Learning
Vocabulary
Writing

Who Should Attend?

Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning® is one of the nation’s premier literacy conferences, attracting education industry professionals from all levels, including:

Instructional specialists
Staff developers
PreK - 12 teachers
Special education teachers
Curriculum specialists/directors
Interventionists
Teacher leaders
Literacy coaches
School administrators
School/District leaders
Literacy leaders/advocates
Higher education professors/instructors
Speech and Language Pathology
School psychologists

Hotel Accommodations

All institute events will be held at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, 2 Poydras St. New Orleans, LA 70002.

The reservation link will be in your registration confirmation email.

$245 per night plus tax and fees. T(currently 16.2% and $3.00 occupancy fee per night for single/double occupancy).
Rooms are available through February 17, 2026 or until sold out.
Check-in time is 4:00 PM and check-out time is 11:00 AM.
Complimentary in-room basic internet for attendees.
Complimentary health club use for all attendees registered in the hotel (excludes classes and court fees).
Overnight parking in the Hilton’s self-parking garage is discounted to $20 per night (plus tax) for guests staying in the Hilton. Valet parking is available for approximately $50 per night plus tax.
A daily parking rate of $10 per day in the Hilton’s self-parking garage is available for those who drive in each day. This rate is valid if you arrive after 6:00 AM and leave before 6:00 PM.

Registration Details

The registration fee for Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning® includes registration materials, all sessions, access to the exhibitor hall, lunch and afternoon refreshments on Wednesday and Thursday, and a Jazz Brunch on Friday.

Registration Fees

$699 on or before November 7, 2025
$799 after November 7, 2025 through February 6, 2026
$899 after February 6, 2026

Group Discount: A $30 per person discount for registering 5 or more educators at the same time will be applied automatically after the 5th person is entered.

Payment Details

Registrations may be paid via credit card, check or purchase order.
We will only accept a purchase order as a method of payment until January 8, 2026. You will have the opportunity to upload your purchase order during the registration process. If you do not have your purchase order at the time of registration, please look for specific instructions during the registration process on how to send it via email.
Payment in any form (credit card, check, or purchase order) must be received within 30 days of registration. If payment is not received within 30 days, your registration will be canceled, and you will be required to re-register at the current rate.

Future Plain Talk Dates

March 11-13, 2026
Feb 24-26, 2027
Jan 26-28, 2028
Jan 31- Feb 2, 2029

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Prior Plain Talk Programs

2024 Plain Talk
2023 Plain Talk
2022 Plain Talk
2021 Plain Talk

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2025 Schedule

Alice Peale Pierce Thomas

Alice P. Thomas Memorial Scholarship

Alice Peale Pierce Thomas was the founder, president, and CEO of The Center for Literacy & Learning. A core mission of social justice drove her strong belief that all children, regardless of how they look, where they come from, or how they learn, can and will achieve school success when provided with highly effective teachers and positive, supportive learning environments.

The goal of the Alice P. Thomas Memorial Scholarship is to offer funding to individuals to attend The Center for Literacy & Learning’s annual Plain Talk about Literacy and Learning® Institute. Scholarships will be awarded to educators who have done outstanding work developing skills in students in literacy.

Scholarship Coverage

Each scholarship includes:
· Full conference registration for Plain Talk 2026
· Hotel accommodations for 3 nights at the New Orleans Hilton Riverside (room and tax only)
· Reimbursement of up to $500 for travel-related expenses
Note: Scholarships are non-transferable and must be used for the 2026 Institute only.

Application Period: Applications open on August 4, 2025, and must be submitted electronically via the official online form. The deadline to apply is September 22, 2025, at 5:00 PM CST.

Selection & Notification: A committee composed of The Center’s staff and invited literacy professionals will review all applications.
Scholarship recipients will be notified via email and publicly announced on November 10, 2025, through The Center’s website, social media platforms, newsletter, and at the conference.

Review Process: The review committee reserves the right to withhold scholarships if the quality of applications does not meet the established criteria. All decisions made by the committee are final.

What Attendees have said about Plain Talk

Plain Talk helped me to understand that I can make a difference. The conference showcased educators who put the work in and made an impact in their communities.

I liked the various options of speakers we had to choose from. It was exciting to sit in with some of the big names I’ve been learning from via podcasts and books.

I loved the amount of knowledge and excitement about change. I learned a lot and couldn’t wait to bring so much back to my school and district

I loved the excitement, feeling empowered by personal stories, the fact that every presenter was aligned, and that I could come home with immediate actionable practices!

This was my first time attending so I didn’t know what to expect. I do not have a strong literacy background, so I feel like the sessions I attended were all extremely enlightening.

2026 Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning®