Real Strategies. Real Impact.
The National Dropout Prevention Conference brings together K–12 leaders, educators, and student support professionals who are responsible for improving attendance, engagement, and graduation outcomes—especially for students facing the greatest barriers to success.
This conference is designed for professionals who don’t just want ideas, but clear strategies, usable tools, and shared frameworks they can implement immediately across classrooms, schools, and systems.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
The conference is intentionally built for cross-functional teams, including:
- District & school leaders
- Principals & assistant principals
- Counselors, social workers, & student support staff
- Graduation coaches & attendance teams
- Special education & alternative education professionals
- Instructional leaders & teacher leaders
- Days58
- Hours3
- Minutes19
- Seconds0
WHAT YOU’LL LEAVE WITH
Practical Takeaways You Can Use Immediately
- Evidence-based strategies grounded in NDPC’s proven frameworks
- Tools and resources to support attendance, engagement, and graduation
- Clear examples from schools and systems doing this work successfully
- Implementation ideas tailored to both school-level and system-level roles
- Connections to a national network of practitioners facing similar challenges
Learning That Connects Research to Practice
The Conference Experience Includes:
Cutting-Edge Solutions
Our sessions are designed to address contemporary issues such as the integration of AI in education, tackling chronic absenteeism, and supporting trauma-impacted students. You’ll leave equipped with the latest, evidence-based practices that are transforming the landscape of dropout prevention.
Actionable Insights
Unlike many conferences that focus on theory, our conference emphasizes practical applications. As a conference attendee, you and your team can expect to gain strategies that you can take back and immediately apply in your classrooms, schools, and districts.
Networking
Engage with a nationwide community of K-12 professionals who share your commitment to student well-being. This conference isn’t just about attending sessions; it’s about building lasting relationships and collaborating on solutions that make a real difference.
Professional Certification Opportunities
Attendees have the opportunity to earn credits toward the National Dropout Prevention Specialist Certification and Trauma-Skilled™ Specialist Certification. These certifications will bolster your professional credentials and provide a structured pathway for ongoing development. Click the buttons below to learn more.
Come as a Team
Teams consistently experience the greatest impact when they attend together. Bringing leaders, instructional staff, and student support professionals to the conference creates a shared understanding of priorities, language, and strategy, making it easier to move from learning to action once back in your schools. Team attendance allows participants to engage in different sessions, compare perspectives, and align next steps, reducing implementation gaps and accelerating progress. Rather than returning with isolated ideas, teams leave with coordinated approaches that support attendance, engagement, and graduation outcomes across roles and systems.
Hear from past attendees
This is my first time to attend this conference, but I hope it is not my last. This conference was well planned and executed. There were intentional opportunities provided for networking and connecting with other attendees. The content of the sessions from keynotes to breakout sessions has been TOP TIER! I have multiple pages of ah-ha notes, strategies, and so much more to take back to my colleagues and the districts I serve and support.
Cristin M Dillard
Alabama State Department of Education
The dropout prevention conference was truly inspiring—a powerful reminder that every student matters and every adult can make a difference. I’m leaving recharged, equipped with new strategies, and committed to breaking barriers so all students have a path to success.
Debra Brundage
City of Palms Charter High School, Inc.
Attending the National Dropout Prevention Conference was both inspiring and informative. One of my biggest takeaways was the reminder that dropout prevention starts with connection—building strong, supportive relationships between students, staff, and families is at the heart of keeping students engaged in school.
Tamika Williams
Chester County School District
Conference Information
Event dates(s):
October 11-14, 2026
Where:
Embassy Suites
by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista South
4955 Kyngs Heath Road
Kissimmee, FL 34746
Tel: 1-407-597-4000
Contact Us
Questions? Contact the NDPC
events team for any conference
related questions
Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista South
About the National Dropout Prevention Center
The National Dropout Prevention Center (NDPC) was founded in 1986 to serve as a clearinghouse on issues related to dropout prevention and to offer research-based practices and strategies to increase graduation rates in schools across the U.S. Since inception, NDPC has become the nation’s leading resource for districts that wish to implement proven solutions to improve student outcomes. NDPC has done this through a variety of offerings such as professional development services, leadership and instructional support, national conferences, and sharing of evidence-based best practices. In addition, NDPC provides training programs for Trauma-Skilled Specialist Certification for practitioners and Trauma-Skilled School Model Certification for schools and districts.
Conference Partners