2025 Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning®

Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning® is heralded as the nation’s premier literacy institute. The Institute gained its reputation because of its clear focus on providing evidence-based reading research and strategies for those who teach all ages and grade levels.

The Institute will be held on February 12 – 14, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana!

2025 Institute Information

What are the Topics?

Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning® attendees can expect to leave more informed about numerous subjects affecting education, including:

  • Adolescent Literacy  
  • Assessment and Data  
  • Coaching  
  • Comprehension   
  • Dyslexia  
  • English Language Learners  
  • Equity & Inclusion   
  • Fluency  
  • Learning Differences    
  • Leadership  
  • Parent, Family & Community Engagement
  • Phonics 
  • Phonological Awareness  
  • Policy  
  • Research 
  • RTI  
  • Spelling  
  • Trauma/Social Emotional Learning 
  • Vocabulary 
  • Writing
Who Should Attend?

Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning® is one of the nation’s premier literacy conferences, attracting education industry professionals from all levels, including:

  • Instructional specialists
  • Staff developers
  • PreK - 12 teachers
  • Special education teachers
  • Curriculum specialists/directors
  • Interventionists
  • Teacher leaders
  • Literacy coaches
  • School administrators
  • School/District leaders
  • Literacy leaders/advocates
  • Higher education professors/instructors
  • Speech and Language Pathology
  • School psychologists
Hotel Accommodations
All institute events will be held at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.
The room block at the Hilton Riverside is sold out. We have rooms on hold at the following hotels within walking distance to the Hilton Riverside. 
  • Omni Riverfront 701 Convention Center Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70130
  • Loews Hotel 300 Poydras St. New Orleans, LA 70130
  • Le Meridien New Orleans 333 Poydras St. New Orleans, LA 70130
  • Doubletree by Hilton Hotel 300 Canal St. New Orleans, LA 70130
     
All offer $245 per night plus tax with complimentary Wi-Fi. The cutoff date is January 21, 2025. The reservation link will be in your registration confirmation email.
Registration Details
The registration fee for Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning® includes registration materials, morning coffee and tea, lunch, and afternoon refreshments on Wednesday and Thursday, and a Jazz Brunch on Friday. You will also have access to all sessions and the exhibitor hall.
   
Registration Fees

  • $699 if registered by October 8, 2024

  • $799 if registered between October 9, 2024, and January 22, 2025 (if seats are still available)

  • $899 if registered after January 22, 2025, until the event (if seats are still available)

Group Discount: A $30 per person discount for registering 5 or more educators at the same time will be applied automatically after the 5th person is entered.

Payment Details
  1. Registrations may be paid via credit card, check or purchase order. 
  2. We will only accept a purchase order as a method of payment until December 13, 2024. You will have the opportunity to upload your purchase order during the registration process. If you do not have your purchase order at the time of registration, please look for specific instructions during the registration process on how to send it via email. 
  3. Payment in any form (credit card, check, or purchase order) must be received within 30 days of registration. If payment is not received within 30 days, your registration will be canceled, and you will be required to re-register at the current rate.
Future Plain Talk Dates

March 11-13, 2026
Feb 24-26, 2027
Jan 26-28, 2028
Jan 31- Feb 2, 2029

Prior Plain Talk Programs
2024 Plain Talk
2023 Plain Talk
2022 Plain Talk
2021 Plain Talk

Additional Questions?

Email or call The Center for Literacy and Learning at plaintalk@mycll.org or (833) 792-1874 for additional information about the conference.
Do you need a copy of The Center for Literacy & Learning's W-9 form?
You can click the link here to download a PDF of The Center for Literacy & Learning's W-9. 
Alice Peale Pierce Thomas

Alice P. Thomas Memorial Scholarship

Alice Peale Pierce Thomas was the founder, president, and CEO of The Center for Literacy & Learning. Alice passed away quietly and peacefully on November 3, 2022.
  
A core mission of social justice drove her strong belief that all children, regardless of how they look, where they come from, or how they learn, can and will achieve school success when provided with highly effective teachers and positive, supportive learning environments.
   
In founding and growing The Center, Alice changed the lives of countless tens of thousands by permanently changing the nature of education at a local, national, and international level – and by reforming the very way that teachers teach.
   
The goal of the Alice P. Thomas Memorial Scholarship is to offer funding to individuals to attend The Center for Literacy & Learning’s annual Plain Talk about Literacy and Learning® Institute. Scholarships will be awarded to educators who have done outstanding work developing skills in students in literacy including structured literacy, reading instruction, and writing instruction. 

What Attendees have said about Plain Talk

Plain Talk 2022 helped me to understand that I Can make a difference. The conference showcased educators who put the work in and made an impact in their communities.
I liked the various options of speakers we had to choose from. It was exciting to sit in with some of the big names I’ve been learning from via podcasts and books.
I loved the amount of knowledge and excitement about change. I learned a lot and couldn’t wait to bring so much back to my school and district
I loved the excitement, feeling empowered by personal stories, the fact that every presenter was aligned, and that I could come home with immediate actionable practices!
This was my first time attending so I didn’t know what to expect. I do not have a strong literacy background, so I feel like the sessions I attended were all extremely enlightening.

Thank You to the 2024 Plain Talk Sponsors & Exhibitors

Want to Attend PlainTalk?

Download this letter explaining why attending Plain Talk will benefit your organization. This form letter can be shared with your management team.