— The Thinking Classroom
Thursday, March 6: Pre-Conference
Come early for the pre-conference workshop to see what Building Thinking Classrooms looks like in a math classroom. Along with the MidSchoolMath team, work with 8th grade teacher Kristy McElravy from Bethel School District in Eugene, OR as they dig into how to combine Liljedahl’s innovative classroom strategies with your math curriculum. Discover how Building Thinking Classroom’s 14 practices can transform your math instruction, while making learning meaningful and engaging for your students. Add this 3-hour workshop to your registration for $75.
Friday, March 7 — Saturday, March 8: Conference
Starting with our signature live simulation with the MidSchoolMath team, the conference will include 50+ breakout sessions designed to address 'The Mid School Math Cliff' where the US has the largest decline in math scores between 4th and 10th grade worldwide.
Join and learn from colleagues and featured presenters from around the nation, such as math influencer and Fresno State University instructor Howie Hua, known for his math memes and engaging videos. Another highlight of the conference mainstage will be a special keynote with Peter Liljedahl, author of Building Thinking Classrooms. All attendees will receive a copy of Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics.
The Pre-Conference workshop will be held from 1 pm to 4 pm on Thursday, March 6. The Conference will run from 8:00am to 6:00 pm on Friday, March 7 and 8:00am to 12:30pm on Saturday, March 8. A detailed agenda will be published in November of 2024 and session sign-up will open in January 2025 for registered attendees.
About the Conference
The MidSchoolMath National Conference is a unique professional learning opportunity for math educators and school/district leadership. Featuring internationally-recognized leaders in education alongside active practitioners, in the inspiring setting of Santa Fe, attendees have an unparalleled opportunity to explore best practices, discover new resources and learn how to best support their students.
The Conference was founded in 2014, as the first and only national conference for math educators with a focus on the middle grades (grades 5 through 8). While it continues to grow, and attracts attendees from across the US, the conference size is intentionally limited to 700 attendees and approximately 50+ concurrent sessions, to ensure an engaging, accessible and meaningful learning experience.
Classroom teachers, academic coaches, school leaders and district administrators and leadership are all welcome to attend. The Conference brings together a diverse grouping of educators, from public, charter and private schools, who use a wide range of curriculum products, textbooks and teaching practices that align to a range of standards.
The MidSchoolMath National Conference is a stand-alone professional learning opportunity whether or not you use Core Curriculum by MidSchoolMath.
— About MidSchoolMath & the Mid School Math Cliff
MidSchoolMath was founded as a direct result of extensive research into the US math crisis and the complexity of the problem. As a nation, we can do better and must invest resources directly into the breaking point: middle school grades.
Based on nearly 20 years of evidence from The International Math & Science Study (TIMSS) and the Programme for International Assessment (PISA), among 34 OECD countries, the US decline from 4th to 10th grade is the greatest in the world. The mid school math cliff illustrates this crisis – and represents our nation’s inability to help students transition from the everyday math of elementary school into the more complex realms of algebra, geometry and beyond.
Since 2009, MidSchoolMath has developed the first story-based math game, the first feature length documentary about the US math crisis, the first annual national conference focused on middle school math, the first socially networked pre-algebra game and the first comprehensive online curriculum, Core Curriculum by MidSchoolMath.
— Conference Rates
Registration rates are as follows:
Early Bird Registration: $395 (through 11/1/24)
Standard Registration: $495 (available 11/2/24 – 2/14/25)
Group Registration: $445 per person, for groups of 4+ (available 11/2/24 – 2/14/25)
Late Registration: $595 (available 2/15/25 – 3/5/25)
Presenters: $350 (accepted presenters only - apply here)
The Pre-Conference Workshop on Thursday, March 6 can be added to any registration for an additional $75.
Register online at Eventbrite; see additional details on How to Register.
Conference registration rates are per person and include access to all conference activities, including all mainstage and concurrent sessions. Light snacks and beverages are provided during the day, but plated full meals are not included. Rates do not include the costs of lodging, travel, transportation, meals or parking. Single-day rates are not available.
— How to Register
Conference registrations for individuals and groups can be purchased directly through Eventbrite using credit and debit cards.
If you have vendor forms that need to be completed, please remit those directly to conference@midschoolmath.com. A copy of MidSchoolMath’s W-9 can be downloaded here.
If your district is required to pay by purchase order, or you need further registration assistance, please contact conference@midschoolmath.com or call 575-224-1480.
— Cancellation Policy
Cancellation requests should be made by Friday, February 14, 2025. Cancellation requests should be submitted in writing, via email to conference@midschoolmath.com. For cancellations made by February 14, 2025, registration fees paid (to-date) will be refunded, less a $75 processing fee. Refunds will be processed via the original payment method; please allow up to two weeks for processing.
Substitutions may be made, at no cost, at any time. Email conference@midschoolmath.com or call 575-224-1480 to request a substitution.
Refunds are not available for no-shows, late arrivals, early departures or cancellations made after Friday, February 14, 2025. Please see the note about COVID-19 below for specific information concerning COVID-19.
Inclement Weather
If inclement weather in Santa Fe coincides with the Conference, the Convention Center and City of Santa Fe services are prepared for the Conference to start on-time. We encourage attendees to stay at hotels in Santa Fe to walk to the Convention Center each day, regardless of the weather.
If an attendee is unable to attend due to weather conditions on the attendee’s end, please notify us promptly at conference@midschoolmath.com or call 575-224-1480. A credit in the amount paid can be issued for use in the future; documentation may be requested.
— Accessibility/ADA Information
MidSchoolMath supports accessibility and inclusion and strives to provide reasonable accommodations for all individuals with disabilities who register to attend. Please contact conference@midschoolmath.com or call 575-224-1480 with ADA requirements, questions or concerns as soon as they arise.
If you require a sign language interpreter, please submit your request by Friday, February 7, 2025. We cannot guarantee fulfillment of requests received after this date.
If you require the assistance of an aide or personal assistant to help you navigate the event, due to visual impairment or other disability, MidSchoolMath is happy to register your aide as a complimentary guest (as long as they are not an educator who would be attending otherwise). Please notify us of this request by Friday, February 7, 2025.
The Santa Fe Community Convention Center is accessible to wheelchairs and electric mobility devices. All Featured Hotels have options for wheelchair accommodations; please contact hotels directly for more detailed information and to ensure an accessible room is reserved.
— Professional Learning Documentation
Attendees will earn 10 contact hours of professional learning by attending all sessions during the Conference (Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8, 2025). Attending the pre-conference workshop (Thursday, March 6, 2025) provides an additional 3 contact hours of professional learning.
A personalized certificate of attendance will be provided to all attendees; please retain this, along with a print-out of your personalized schedule. This is sufficient documentation to meet professional learning requirements in most US states.
If you would specifically like to earn CEUs, your state has more specific requirements, or your state requires professional learning providers and programs be registered with the state, please contact conference@midschoolmath.com prior to the start of the Conference so we can assist you with fulfilling those requirements.
— Justification of Spending
Founded and run by educators, MidSchoolMath understands that school budgets are limited, while knowing that professional learning is an important investment.
We strive to keep our registration rates low while providing a high-quality learning experience. Registration fees are comparable to, if not lower than, those of other national education conferences. And by holding the conference in the mid-sized city of Santa Fe, hotel and travel expenses are often substantially less.
At the current time, MidSchoolMath does not have any grants or scholarships available to support attendees. However, there may be grants or scholarships available from foundations or non-profit organizations based in your area. School and community leaders may be able to help connect you with these organizations.
To assist you with submitting requests to attend to your administration, or applying local funding opportunities, you can download and customize this sample letter that explains the value of attending the MidSchoolMath National Conference.
— A Note about COVID-19
After unprecedented disruption due to COVID-19, we have truly appreciated the opportunity to gather again in-person, in Santa Fe. The Santa Fe Community Convention Center, operated by the City of Santa Fe, has comprehensive COVID operating protocols in place, and ensures all events are presented safely, in keeping with regional and New Mexico health guidelines. By registering for the conference, attendees agree to comply with all safety protocols posted by MidSchoolMath and/or announced by the facility before and during the event.
Travel and attending in-person events naturally increases the risk of contracting communicable diseases, including, but not limited to, COVID-19. The City of Santa Fe and the state of New Mexico is dedicated to helping visitors travel safely, through implementation of up-to-date safety procedures and practices and high regional vaccination rates, with well over 75% of Santa Fe County residents currently vaccinated.
If you will be unable to attend the Conference in person, due to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, travel restrictions and/or quarantine requirements you registered for the Conference, please contact MidSchoolMath promptly at conference@midschoolmath.com or 575-224-1480 so that we can discuss your situation and create a solution that ensures a safe event for all. In most instances, MidSchoolMath will provide you with credit to attend the 2026 MidSchoolMath National Conference or a colleague who is not affected may attend in your place. Documentation may be requested.
MidSchoolMath is putting all available resources and expertise into ensuring we can host a safe, enjoyable in-person conference in March of 2025. However, due to the continually-evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person events cannot be guaranteed. If federal, state or regional health guidelines, travel restrictions, quarantine requirements or other irrefutable logistics prohibit MidSchoolMath from presenting an in-person conference in March of 2025 as planned, all programming will be transferred to a future event.
