WSCA Fall Conference
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Call for Proposals

The Illinois School Counselor Association is soliciting session proposals for breakout sessions for our Annual Conference November 12-13, 2026 at the Marriott Bloomington-Normal.

All sessions should promote evidence-based programs in the domains of academic, college and career readiness, and social/emotional development highlighting the latest techniques and practices in school counseling. Presentations need to showcase proven programs, current research, resources, or skills of value to K-12 counselors as well as district personnel, graduate students, and school counselor educators.

Proposals BY school counselors and FOR school counselors are often the most helpful and well-attended breakout sessions at the conference. We encourage you to share your story and give practical tips for school counseling.
Important Dates
May 29, 2026
Call for Proposals Closes

June 13, 2026
Presenters Notified

September 1, 2026
Presenter Registration Deadline

November 10, 2026
Session Materials Due to ISCA (Slide Decks, Handouts)
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION FORM QUESTIONS
  • Lead Presenter Name, Contact Information, and CV/Resume
  • Co-Presenter Name and Contact Information, and CV/Resume
  • Session Title
  • Session Description -
  • Session Audience (Elementary, Middle/Jr. High, High School, or All)
  • Session Tracks
  • Learning Outcomes (3)
Suggested Topics
Past conference attendees have requested presentations on the following topics. This is not a comprehensive list– we are looking for all types of presentations on a variety of topics.

  • Trauma-Informed Counseling
  • Response to Crisis
  • Equity in Counseling
  • Data Driven Decision Making
  • MTSS/MDMTSS
  • Specific Classroom Lessons
  • Small Group Implementation
  • Strategies to Support LGBTQ+ Students
  • Improving the Principal/Counselor Relationship
  • Chronic Absenteeism and School Refusal
  • Best Practices on Parent Communication
  • Academic Interventions
  • Engaging Ideas for Successful Programing.
GUIDELINES & RULES
  • The submissions collected from this Call for Proposals will be considered for breakout sessions only. We do not accept proposals for keynote speakers via the Call for Proposals.
  • Breakout sessions take place on November 12 and 13 and are 60 minutes long.
  • Presenters should plan to be available on any day for which ISCA assigns your session, however, we understand busy schedules do not always permit this. If you are selected and need to specify which day you present, you must request this no later than September 1, 2026 by emailing erin@waschoolcounselor.org or by replying to the notification email. There are no schedule changes after September 1.
  • Proposal submission does not guarantee participation in the ISCA Conference.
  • Under no circumstances may a breakout session be used as a place for direct promotion of products or services for sale. Sales pitches disguised as presentations will not be considered.
  • Should you wish to sell products or services, you must purchase exhibit space and confine promotions and sales to the exhibit area. Visit https://www.iscaconference.org/sponsor for details.
  • All presenters must pay conference registration fees. Selected presenters will be entitled to the reduced registration rate.
  • Only three presenters may appear on any proposal - one lead presenter and up to two co-presenters.
  • The reduced registration rate is limited to the three (3) presenters listed on the proposal.
  • Only presenters listed in the proposal will be entitled to the reduced registration rate.
  • An individual may not submit or appear on more than two proposals, either as lead presenter or as co-presenter.
  • ISCA does not pay ANY honoraria, speaker fees, or travel expenses to breakout session speakers. We hope the intangible benefits of being a part of our educational programming make the effort worthwhile for presenters.
  • Persons presenting at the conference are expected to use material and language that does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, physical ability, and/or sexual orientation.
Submission Rules
  • The individual submitting the proposal is considered the primary contact and is expected to provide information and updates to any listed co-presenters.
  • All ISCA Conference information and correspondence will be sent via email. 
  • Presenters agree to abide by the terms of the copyright release in order to present.
  • Presenters agree to provide their presentation materials electronically by November 10, 2026.
  • Presenters agree to permit ISCA to provide their contact information to attendees. 
  • If your proposal is selected, ISCA reserves the right to revise presentation titles, reassign the selected track, and/or edit the program summary for promotional and program materials.
  • ISCA reserves the right to cancel a session based on noncompliance with the session guidelines. This includes, but is not limited to: failure to register, failure to submit the required information, presenter changes, etc.

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