ELEVATE '27 FAQs

First, request approval from the LEA (Local Education Agency) or SEA (State Education Agency/Department of Education for your State) to use federal funds for the cost of your registration. Typically, the approval form will be submitted to the LEA by the site administrator at your school. Click here to download the Elevate approval form. You may use this justification letter for your school administrator to show that the conference qualifies for the use of federal funding.

Next, you will submit the approval form to [email protected]  and complete the registration form at www.factselevate.com.

If you are not sure, your principal or site administrator can check with your FACTS account manager. If your school is already receiving professional development or instructional services through FACTS Ed Services, FACTS is likely registered as a vendor with the LEA to provide services. If not, a W9 from FACTS will need to be submitted to the district to register the company as a vendor. You may email [email protected] to request a copy of FACTS W9.

Some LEAs issue a PO for you to submit to [email protected] with your registration. If not, use the Event Approval Form. Submit this form to the LEA with your request to use federal funding for registration, and ask that the completed form be returned to you. Plan to submit the completed approval form to [email protected] before you register for the conference online.

This depends on what is allowable, according to the rules set down by the LEA/district. Your principal or site administrator will confirm any additional eligible expenses. The LEA may agree to cover all, some, or none of your travel expenses. Make sure the travel section of the event pre-approval form is completed by the LEA, and make sure to save a copy for your records. If approved, you will likely have to submit a separate form for reimbursement of any allowable travel expenses after attending the conference. Make sure to save your receipts.

After Elevate, plan to submit proof to your LEA that you attended/participated. This documentation includes a program summary/schedule and proof of attendance, typically in the form of a certificate of completion or verification letter from the FACTS as the conference organizer(s). After each breakout session, complete the provided feedback survey(s) and indicate if you want a digital certificate of attendance for the session. Save copies of the certificate(s) for your records.

Your regular Elevate registration ticket includes:

• 3 Main Stage Keynote sessions
• Hands-on training sessions
• Access to FACTS Productopia with the Product Team
• 8 Breakout session slots (with 100+ to choose from!)
• Access to our incredible vendors in the Exhibit Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday
• Coffee and light snacks in between sessions
• Countless networking opportunities with other FACTS users like you!

Meals are not included with your Elevate registration. There are onsite restaurants at the Hyatt Regency and several restaurants within walking distance. However, we will provide coffee/light snack breaks on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and we will have heavy apps and drinks available at our Exhibitor Reception on Wednesday night.

No problem! If you have a staff member that needs to be replaced, email [email protected] and let us know. We will need the name of the person to remove, and the full name, title and work email address for the new person.

We will have a notebook and pen for you to pick up at registration!

Yes. If you are sending 3 or more people from your school, please use the group registration item on the registration form. Group registration is $699/per person, and increases to $899/person after April 19, 2027.

Just email [email protected] and let us know you need to cancel. Please be aware that credit card processing fees, and invoice processing fees are NOT refundable - only the cost of the ticket itself. In addition, there are NO refunds after May 14, 2027 for any reason, including illness, surgery, weather, etc. We have to guarantee and pay for a certain number of attendees to the hotel before that date, so we are unable to offer any refunds past the final date of May 14, 2027. You are required to sign off that you understand the refund policy when you register for the conference. 

The closest airports are O’Hare (ORD) or Midway (MDW). Both airports connect to downtown by train, and ride shares and taxis are easy to find at either one.

Midway is 13 miles from the Hyatt Regency.

O'Hare is 18 miles from the Hyatt Regency.

Both airports connect to downtown by train, and ride shares and taxis are easy to find at either one.

We will have a luggage room for you to place your luggage while you attend Thursday's sessions.

Casual is fine! Most attendees wear jeans, pants, or other comfortable but appropriate attire. The Elevate staff will all be in jeans and sneakers. The session rooms can be cold, so we recommend bringing a cardigan, jacket, or sweatshirt. We expect the weather in Chicago to be warm and beautiful in June!

Your agenda will allow one selection for each of the 8 different breakout sessions slots Tuesday - Thursday. We expect to have our final session list available by December 1, 2026.

Yes. Once the Whova app opens up on March 21, you will be required to use the app to reserve your spot in sessions ahead of attending Elevate. You must be RSVP'ed to sessions in order to enter the session - our friendly room hosts will help to scan you in. We do have capacity constraints in the rooms, and we have to abide by those constraints due to the fire marshal. In addition, many rooms will be set up with both tables and theater style seating. If you want to guarantee a table seat, you will need to get to your sessions early!

Yes. Be sure to check-in (using Whova) to each breakout session you attend. After each session, complete the provided feedback survey(s) and indicate if you want a digital certificate of attendance for the session. Certificates will be emailed as PDFs to the work email associated with your registration, and will include attendee name, session title, session date and time, and total hours.

We have multiple sessions for everyone! Most of our sessions will be geared towards school administrators, enrollment managers, IT directors, academic leaders, and business office staff.

This year we will have many hands-on training sessions throughout the week, along with FACTS in the Real World (best practices from industry experts and school leaders), Thought Leadership style sessions, and more.

We will also host several "beginning" level preconference deep dive sessions on Monday, June 21 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM ($199 add-on to attend).

Absolutely! Once the full session schedule drops, we will have a scheduling assistant powered by AI to assist you! Check back in December for more information!

We love our school contacts to lead or co-lead sessions! All proposals MUST be submitted by December 31, 2026 at 11:59pm. Sessions that are chosen will receive 50% off of registration. Check back later for instructions about how to submit a proposal!

Yes. All session documents and presentations will be available as PDFs in the Whova app.

A list of sessions will be available on the Elevate website by December 1, 2026.  Once the Whova app opens on March 21, 2027, you will officially RSVP for your sessions and build your agenda.