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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General Information

The National Conference on Student Assessment (NCSA) is an annual conference hosted by the Council of Chief State School Officers for those interested in sharing reflections, best practices, strategies, research studies, resources, and innovative methods to measure student learning and support districts and schools to ensure the educational progress of all students. This conference gathers the most dynamic and creative education professionals from around the country for an intensive, highly collaborative exploration of new technologies, best practices, and pressing issues. 

NCSA runs three consecutive days in the month of June: Monday, June 22, through Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at the JW Marriott Austin, Austin, Texas.  

CCSSO is planning to have the conference in person in 2026. 

Attire for the conference is business casual. It is recommended to carry a light sweater or jacket during the day as the rooms are air-conditioned.

Registration

Visit the Register page for full details on how to register.

Your conference registration includes:

  • Access to all keynote and breakout sessions
  • Full access to the exhibit hall featuring leading assessment and education organizations.
  • Opportunities to network with nearly 1,000 education professionals
  • Conference materials and resources
  • Meals and refreshments provided during the conference, which includes continental breakfast (2 days), lunch (1 day), afternoon breaks, and networking reception.

In the event that you are chosen as a speaker, kindly note that you will be responsible for covering both your conference registration fee as well as your travel and hotel expenses. Although CCSSO does not provide registration discounts or expense reimbursements for speakers, this is an incredible opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals and share your expertise. 

Yes, you can register on-site during Registration and Badge Pick-Up hours.

To cancel an NCSA registration and request a refund, a written request must be submitted to the CCSSO Meetings Team. Cancellation requests will not be processed over the phone. 

  • Requests received by 11:59 p.m. EST on May 22, 2026 – Full refunds will be issued, minus a $100 per person processing fee. 
  • Requests received after May 22, 2026 – Refunds will not be issued. After this date, we have committed to our hotel vendors and partners, making refunds unavailable. 

Refund Processing 

All refunds will be issued in the same manner as the original payment: 

  • Credit card refunds: Processed within five business days of receipt. 
  • Check refunds: Processed within 30 business days of receipt. 

Canceling your conference registration does not automatically cancel your hotel or travel reservations. Attendees are responsible for managing and canceling their own hotel and travel bookings. 

CCSSO reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the conference at any time. If the event is canceled or rescheduled due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, attendees will receive a full refund. However, CCSSO is not responsible for any travel arrangements, fees, or other expenses incurred as a result of the cancellation. If such a change occurs, attendees will be notified via email—please ensure a valid email address is provided at registration. 

A registration transfer allows a paid registrant to be replaced by a colleague from the same organization at no additional charge if requested by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Thursday, June 18, 2026. 

To request a transfer, the original registrant must submit a written request to meetings@ccsso.org, including: 

  • The name, email, and phone number of the new registrant. 
  • A CCSSO staff member will then contact the new registrant for further details. 

Please note: 

  • On-site registration transfers will not be permitted. 
  • Transfers between different organizations are not allowed. 
  • If a paid registrant requests to switch to a prepaid or complimentary registration, a $100 processing fee will be deducted from their refund. 

Transferring your conference registration does not automatically cancel your hotel or travel reservations. Attendees are responsible for managing and canceling their own hotel and travel bookings. 

CCSSO accepts check, credit card, wire transfer, and purchase order.
 
  • CREDIT CARD
    • Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted.
  • CHECK
    • All checks should be made payable to: Council of Chief State School Officers
    • Mail to: Council of Chief State School Officers, P.O. Box 786261, Philadelphia, PA 19178-6261
  • PURCHASE ORDER
    • All purchase orders should be addressed to: Council of Chief State School Officers, One Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20002, Attn: Accounting Department. Fastest delivery is via email to meetings@ccsso.org.
  • WIRE TRANSFER