School Planning Conference 2026

Connect, Strategize, Lead. Join education leaders from across the US to redefine the standard for modern school district planning.

Welcome to the School Planning Conference 2026!

Date: Tue Jun 23, 2026

Time: 8:30 AM

Location: The Westshore Grand, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Tampa

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📅 Conference Agenda Highlights

Our multi-track program is designed to provide hands-on skills and strategic insights.

Track A: GIS and Spatial Analysis

• Day 1 (June 23): Foundations — getting your environment configured and your first spatial layers built
  Morning - Introduction to SchoolSite Pro for District Planning
  Afternoon - ArcGIS Pro Fundamentals for K-12 Planners
• Day 2 (June 24): Analysis — running spatial queries, geocoding student data, and building boundary proposals
  Morning - Spatial Analytics for School Boundary Planning
  Afternoon - Working with Parcel Data and Address Geocoding
• Day 3 (June 25): Presentation — turning your analysis into board-ready deliverables and communicating findings
  Morning - Presenting GIS Findings to School Boards
  Afternoon - Bring Your Own District GIS Lab
• Day 4 (June 26): Half-day lab.
  

Track B: Demographic Forecasting

• Day 1 (June 23): Keynote and foundations — cohort-survival methodology and student yield factor analysis
  Morning - Opening Keynote: Connecting Enrollment Data to Facility Decisions
  Afternoon - Cohort-Survival Methodology: From Concept to Calculation
• Day 2 (June 24): Analysis — running spatial queries, geocoding student data, and building boundary proposals
  Morning - Student Yield Factors: How New Development Affects Enrollment
  Afternoon - Birth Rate Trends and Long-Range Kindergarten Forecasting
• Day 3 (June 25): Delivery — structuring a demographic study and integrating projections with GIS
  Morning - Building a Board-Ready Demographic Study
  Afternoon - Integrating Demographic Data with GIS Spatial Layers
• Day 4 (June 26): Half-day lab.

Track C: Capacity, Consolidation & Safety

• Day 1 (June 23): Indoor GIS foundations and critical incident mapping for school safety planning
  Morning - Introduction to Indoor GIS for K-12 Facilities
  Afternoon - Critical Incident Mapping: GIS for School Safety Planning
• Day 2 (June 24): Capacity utilization and school consolidation — building the spatial case for hard decisions
  Morning - Capacity Utilization Analysis and School Consolidation Planning
  Afternoon - Boundary Adjustment and Community Engagement
• Day 3 (June 25): Presentation — turning your analysis into board-ready deliverables and communicating findings
  Morning - Communicating Safety and Facility GIS to Administrators
  Afternoon - Bring Your Own District GIS Lab — Safety and Facility Focus
• Day 4 (June 26): Half-day lab.

🌴 Evening & Local Exploration

• Thursday Night Social: Join us on June 25 from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM for a dedicated networking social to connect with peers.
• World-Class Shopping: The hotel is a 2-minute walk from Westshore Plaza and 3 minutes by car to International Plaza.
• Local Brews: Visit the celebrated Cigar City Brewing, located just 1.5 miles (about 3 minutes) away.
• Outdoor Breaks: Take a quick trip to Cypress Point Park for scenic bayside trails and fresh air.

🏨 At the Hotel: Relaxation & Refinement

Between workshops and networking, take advantage of the sophisticated amenities at our host site:

• Rooftop Pool: Visit the 9th floor for a refreshing dip or panoramic views of the Tampa skyline.
• Signature Dining: Enjoy world-class steak at Shula’s Steak House (on-site) or grab an Italian espresso at the illy Caffe.
• The No Name Lounge: This chic space features five plasma-screen TVs and is the perfect spot for catching up on sports or post-conference networking.
• Wellness: Stay on track with your routine at the 24-hour state-of-the-art health club.