Call for Proposals
RESILIENCE IN ACTION:
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS IN URBAN SPACES
The International Conference on Urban Education (ICUE) is a biennial meeting that provides stimulating intellectual, practical, and performance-based sessions. This dynamic conference is poised to examine critical questions and social justice issues that challenge successful and productive citizens in countries around the world and specifically the host country and city.
ICUE invites community activists, university faculty (in every discipline), PK-12 educators, college students (Grad/undergraduate), foundation leaders, NGO's, artists, technology experts, engineers, financial & business leaders, environmentalists, and healthcare professionals to submit a proposal.
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2026 ICUE Theme "Resilience in Action - Innovative Solutions in Urban Spaces"
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SUBMIT PROPOSALS HERE
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​​Download Call for Proposals
Program Strands
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PK-12 Best Practices - Sessions focus on instructional practices, activities, and concepts that support innovative culturally and racially responsive teaching and learning. Curriculum innovation, abolitionist teaching, critical teaching, and other forms of developmentally appropriate practices.
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Political and Social Justice and Advocacy - Sessions focus on social activism, judicial justice, racial justice, combating curriculum violence, and community engagement that support the marginalized in urban communities.
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Business Development and Economics - Sessions focus on business development and partnerships in urban centers, as well as economic advancement and challenges in urban public school funding.
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Educational Policy and Leadership - Sessions focus on educational and discipline policies, administration, and leadership topics in PK-12 and higher education settings.
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Gender and LBGTQAI+ - Sessions focus on issues, policies, perspectives, and laws that challenge or support gender and LBGTQAI+ issues in urban schools.
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Innovative Solutions through STEM/STEAM and AI - These sessions focus on STEM/STEAM education and how access and innovation can build STEM identities in urban schools. Sessions will highlight the importance of A.I., culturally responsive strategies, and future ready skills that empower undeserved learners.
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Keeping Students Connected: Addressing Retention and Persistence in Urban Education - Student retention is a defining challenge for urban schools worldwide. This strand explores the multifaceted reasons students disengage - from socioeconomic barriers and family responsibilities to cultural disconnection and systemic inequities - and examines innovative, research-based approaches that help students stay on track.
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HBCU and Higher Education - Sessions focus on policies, research, curriculum, instruction, as well as faculty and student experiences in higher education context.
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Health Advocacy in Education - Students face significant health disparities that directly impact their ability to learn, yet these barriers are often invisible to educators. This strand examines how inequitable access to healthcare, nutrition, mental health support, and safe environments affects student achievement - and what educators can do within their sphere of influence to reduce these gaps.
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Social Work in Urban Education: Whole Child Wellness and Community Support - This strand explores the vital role of school social workers in urban education, featuring solution-focused practices that address the social, emotional and systemic factors affecting student well being. Sessions highlight culturally responsive approaches to mental health support, family engagement, trauma-informed care, and community partnerships that help students, families and school communities navigate the complex realities of urban life and create pathways to resilience and success.
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School Discipline and Suspension Prevention - Sessions focus on discipline, restorative justice, as well as suspension and violence prevention in urban schools and communities.
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Artificial Intelligence and Influences on Education - Artificial intelligence is reshaping educational practice through personalized learning platforms, automated feedback systems, and data-informed instruction. However, its impact depends entirely on how educators implement and critically evaluate these tools.​
Session Formats
We ask that you select a format from the following formats. Depending on the quality of the content, your proposal will be carefully evaluated and accepted for the format that best fits its overall style (this can be different from your original selection).
Paper Sessions
A paper session consists of a group of research/concept papers with a similar focus. Paper Sessions are also the most popular and formal form of research presentation and will be selected based on the rigor, attention to quality research, relevance to the conference theme, and connection to the selected strand. Maximum of four (4) papers per session. Session will include a chair.
Roundtable Sessions
Roundtable sessions will highlight papers with similar focus to engage participants in less formal discussion for a more in-depth exchange of information. Roundtable sessions provide opportunities to impact the audience on a more communal level. Roundtable sessions can be a solo paper (with multiple authors) or multiple papers. Maximum of four (4) papers. Roundtable will include a moderator.
Poster Sessions
Poster Sessions provide a casual atmosphere to present projects in an informal but interactive setting. Presenters must use a poster display to display a visual overview of the project, paper, event (laptop displays and handouts are also encouraged to support poster overview). Maximum of two presenters per poster.
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If accepted for a poster session, please adhere to the following poster guidelines.
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Width: 48 inches
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Height: 36 inches
***Due to the scheduling of the conference conflicts may occur if presenting a Poster and Roundtable. We will do our best to accommodate the schedule but ask you to consider the combination of Paper/Poster or Roundtable/Paper.
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Conference Proceedings
If your proposal (paper, roundtable, or poster) is accepted, and you want it included in the conference proceedings, you must submit a formally written paper by July 19, 2026. Your paper must be typed, single-spaced, a maximum of three pages (not including references), follow APA 7th edition guidelines, and have a description of the purpose, framework, research methodology, findings/results and the scholarly significance of the work.
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Please submit your work HERE.
Submission Timeline
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All submissions must be based on original work (not previously published or presented at another conference)
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Proposal Deadline - Submissions must be received by May 15, 2026.
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Acceptances/Denials will be sent on or before June 20, 2026.
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Conference Proceedings Papers are due by July 19, 2026 (optional)
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The Early Bird Registration deadline for all participants is May 15, 2026.
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Presenters of accepted proposals must register for the conference by August 14, 2026 to be included in the program schedule. Each person may submit a maximum of two (2) proposals (regardless of order of authorship and submission format).