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Our largest annual event, the National Conference inspires and equips a growing community of Catholic educators to reclaim the Church’s full vision of education and to bring it to life in their classrooms. Join hundreds of Catholic educators as they come together to deepen their understanding of the nature and purpose of Catholic education and its roots in the liberal arts tradition.
Ascension of Christ. Anton Raphael Mengs, c.1755-1766
THEME
As a theological virtue, hope is a gift of God’s grace anchored in the reality of the Incarnation. It is received in humility and docility and reveals that we are made in the image and likeness of God, beckoning us toward ultimate human flourishing.
The 15th Annual 2027 ICLE National Conference theme, “The Reason for Our Hope,” invites Catholic educators to ground their mission in a Christological anthropology, recognizing Jesus as both the model and the means of Catholic human formation. It calls us to follow Christ the Teacher who forms our us by uniquely uniting wonder with reason in the truth of His own person.
Aristotle noted that wonder is the beginning of philosophy, and the Church offers wonder as the starting point of faith. Authentic Catholic education is a path of transformation in Christ. It is an education made possible by humbling the soul through an encounter with reality: a geometric proof, the order of creation, or the beauty of a poem. By providing a framework for what ignites wonder, we prepare our students to see how all truth coheres in Christ, and this gives us hope for both the renewal of Catholic education and for our ultimate destiny in Him.
We invite you to join us at the 2027 National Conference as we renew our calling, always at the ready to give a reason of the hope within us.
LOCATION:
The 2027 National Conference will take place at the Fairmont Dallas Hotel in Dallas, Texas.
SCHEDULE:
The conference takes place over the course of four days, beginning on Tuesday, July 13, and concluding around lunch time on Friday, July 16.
COST FOR 2027:
Member School Rate: TBA. Member-rate includes a $50 discount per registration. Registration fees are due within 15 days of registration. Payment is due within 72 hours for those admitted off the waitlist.
Non-Member School Rate: TBA. Registration fees are due within 15 days of registration (Become an ICLE Member School today!). Payment is due within 72 hours for those admitted off the waitlist.
TITLE FUNDING:
Title funds (federal monies administered by your Local Educational Agency) may be available to help offset participant costs related to this event. Past participants in this event have successfully secured title funding. Please review some helpful information HERE.
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CLERGY AND VOWED RELIGIOUS:
A limited number of partial, needs-based scholarships are reserved specifically for clergy and vowed religious interested in participating in this program. If you are a member of the clergy or a vowed religious interested in applying for a scholarship, please complete this scholarship request form.
CONFERENCE LODGING:
Please note that your conference registration does not include overnight lodging. ICLE will reserve a room block at the conference hotel at a special conference rate. Please check back for more information.
TRAVEL:
Dallas Love Field Airport (Airport code: DAL) is located 16-45 minutes from the Fairmont Dallas Hotel. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (Airport code: DFW) is located 20-60 minutes from the hotel.
CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE:
Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) are granted for participation in ICLE workshops, programs, and events. You may request a certificate of attendance for a previous event HERE.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
Due to hard costs incurred in contracts and planning, we provide a cancellation policy that aims to be respectful of your ministry in Catholic education, but also justly considerate of the fiscal responsibilities of our own ministry:
For the National Conference, cancellations received at least 90 days in advance of the event (by April 13, 2027) will be honored with a full refund. Cancellations received at least 45 days in advance (by May 28, 2027) will receive a 50% refund. Cancellations received less than 45 days in advance (after May 29, 2027) will receive no refund.
Please allow up to 30 days for a refund to be processed.
The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education is pleased to again offer a limited livestreaming option for those who cannot attend the National Conference in person.
Livestream License: $595 per school (only one representative needs to register and pay)
Livestream registration includes:
- One school license for live viewing of all plenary sessions and one breakout presentation (pre-selected by ICLE) per breakout block for current faculty and staff members
- Access to recordings for 90 days after the conference
QUESTIONS:
Questions or concerns? Let us know by filling out the form below.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2026 CONFERENCE: