By Steve Tapp, CEO, ACT
During my many years working in the Education and Workforce assessment industry, I’ve had countless conversations with leaders across K-12, higher education, workforce development, government, and industry. While those conversations often begin with different challenges, they almost always end in the same place: helping learners achieve meaningful success and guiding them on their chosen pathway.
That’s why I’m especially excited about the 2026 ACT Summit, taking place July 13–15 in Nashville. More than a conference, the ACT Summit is a gathering of leaders who understand that the future of education and workforce readiness depends on strong connections across sectors. It’s where policy and practice truly meet purpose.
The convergence we can no longer deny
The traditional boundaries between K-12 education, higher education, and the workforce are rapidly disappearing.
K-12 leaders are being asked to prepare students not only for graduation, but for an increasingly complex set of postsecondary pathways. Higher education institutions are adapting to changing learner expectations, evolving enrollment patterns, and growing demands for workforce relevance. Employers and workforce leaders are seeking talent pipelines that align more effectively with economic needs and emerging industries.
The reality is that no single sector can solve these challenges alone.
Student success today requires a connected ecosystem. It requires educators, college leaders, policymakers, workforce practitioners, and employers working together to ensure learners can navigate the journey from classroom to career with confidence.
That convergence is exactly why ACT created the Summit. We believe the most innovative solutions emerge when leaders from different sectors sit at the same table, share perspectives, challenge assumptions, and build partnerships that extend well beyond the event itself. The conversations happening in Nashville will focus on the full learner journey – from academic preparation and college access to credential attainment, career readiness, and long-term economic mobility.
What makes the ACT Summit different
There are many excellent conferences out there focused on the individual sectors of K-12, higher ed, and workforce.
The ACT Summit is different because it intentionally brings all three communities together into a single, integrated experience.
Attendees have the opportunity to learn from leaders whose work influences different parts of the learner journey. A district superintendent can hear directly from workforce leaders about emerging talent needs. A university enrollment leader can engage with state policymakers shaping college and career pathways. An employer can gain deeper insight into how educators are preparing learners for future opportunities.
These cross-sector interactions create a richer, more actionable experience. Attendees don't simply leave with new ideas; they leave with new relationships, broader perspectives, and practical strategies that can be applied immediately within their own communities.
Learning from leaders who are shaping the future
One of the highlights of this year's Summit is our outstanding lineup of plenary speakers. We are honored to welcome to our stage:
Dr. Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia: Having served as a governor, secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and now leader of one of the nation's largest university systems, he brings a unique and timely perspective on the intersection of education, public policy, economic development, and workforce preparation.
Tom Keily, policy director at the Education Commission of the States, Dr. Anne Kress, president of Northern Virginia Community College, Bronwyn Robertson, assistant director at Mississippi Community College Board Office of Adult Education, and Deniece Thomas, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Labor, will all take the stage together to discuss current challenges within their sectors and how cross-sector collaboration can lead to solutions on both the state and community levels.
Dr. Brandi De La Cruz, 2025-2026 Tennessee Teacher of the Year, Justin Draeger, senior vice president of affordability at the Strada Education Foundation, Angela Jerabek, founder and executive director at the BARR Center, and Jerre Maynor, senior director for Jobs for the Future, will discuss how the convergence of the three sectors can better align systems to support every learner not just until graduation, but for long-term success in college and career.
Each of these speakers represents a different part of the learner ecosystem. Together, they embody the collaborative spirit that defines the ACT Summit.
A new opportunity: Daily Debriefs
This year, we are introducing a new feature that I'm particularly excited about: Daily Debriefs.
One challenge at any conference is finding the time to process what you've learned and connect it to your own work. The pace is fast, ideas come quickly, and meaningful reflection can sometimes get lost between sessions.
These debriefs are designed to change that.
At the conclusion of each day, attendees will have an opportunity to engage directly with cross-industry leaders in a more conversational setting. These sessions will create space to reflect on key themes, discuss emerging ideas, ask questions, and explore how insights from different sectors can be applied back home.
I believe these debriefs will become some of the most valuable conversations of the entire event. They offer a chance not only to learn from experts, but also to learn from one another. In many cases, the breakthrough idea that changes a program, partnership, or policy begins with a conversation that happens after the formal presentation ends.
Why we need to come together now
There has never been a more important time for collaboration across education and workforce systems.
Communities across the country are navigating questions about college access, workforce participation, credential value, artificial intelligence, demographic shifts, economic mobility, and the future of learning itself. While these challenges are complex, they also present tremendous opportunities for innovation.
The leaders who will shape that future are already doing important work in schools, colleges, workforce agencies, state systems, and organizations nationwide. The ACT Summit provides a place for those leaders to come together, share what is working, learn from one another, and build momentum for the work ahead.
My hope is that every attendee leaves Nashville with new insights, stronger partnerships, and a renewed sense of purpose. More importantly, I hope they leave with practical ideas they can implement to help more learners achieve success beyond high school – whether that success takes the form of a degree, a credential, an apprenticeship, military service, or a career.
Because at the end of the day, that's what unites all of us.
No matter which sector we represent, we share a common goal: Guiding every learner, along every pathway, every time.
I hope you'll join us in Nashville this July as we work together to build stronger pathways to postsecondary success and shape the future of education and workforce development.
You can save your seat by registering with this link. I look forward to seeing you there.
