WIDA Annual Conference

A conference by teachers, for teachers

The WIDA Annual Conference is the largest conference dedicated to educators of Pre-K through grade 12 multilingual learners. Educators from around the country submit session proposals, which are reviewed and selected by a panel of internal and external reviewers. Sessions examine research-based strategies and instructional practices on topics that align with the conference theme and are designed and delivered in an engaging format. Topic areas include

Social Justice and Equitable Opportunities 
Family and Community Engagement
Bi/Multilingual Education
Assessment and Multilingual Learners
Professional Learning in Schools and Districts
Specific Populations of Multilingual Learners
PreK–3
Effective Instructional Practices
Implementation of WIDA ELD Standards Framework
Program Administration & Policy

Launched in 2013, the WIDA Annual Conference has continued to grow in popularity as it has traveled around the country – from Las Vegas to Milwaukee to Tampa.

In its first year, the conference drew 600 participants with a sizable waiting list. Now, we prepare for more than 1,500 attendees as well as 1,000 virtual attendees each year. Read about the biggest moments from the 2024 WIDA Annual Conference held in Pittsburgh.

Past Conferences

The WIDA Annual Conference, hosted in a different region across the WIDA Consortium each year, attracts educators from around the globe. Most recently, in 2023, educators from 44 U.S. states and 14 countries attended the conference.