About ASCD Student Chapters

The ASCD Student Chapter program is designed to accelerate preservice educators and student teachers' professional development and their self-identification as education professionals and leaders. 

ASCD is committed to improving teacher education and teacher quality. By meaningfully engaging student teachers with ASCD resources and involving them with members of the ASCD community, future educators and leaders gain an edge that energizes and raises their professional performance level.

Together with their class work, membership in an ASCD student chapter helps preservice educators and student teachers begin to learn how and where they might fit into their chosen profession. Membership establishes the link between the classroom and their first jobs as they transition into a career in education.

Student chapters will receive opportunities to experience the ASCD Leader to Leader Conference, ASCD Annual Conference, and regional events hosted by ASCD affiliates to meet education professionals, participate in professional development programs, and develop contacts for internships and future career opportunities.

Chapters may form on the campuses of community colleges, colleges, and universities with accredited education programs.

ASCD Student Chapter Community

Connect with the ASCD Community!

• As a student chapter member, we invite you to join the Facebook Student Chapters group. This group will allow you to connect and collaborate with student chapter members from across the nation.
• An important part of the ASCD community is our ASCD affiliates. Many of our affiliates host regional events that are excellent opportunities for student chapter members to meet education professionals and become more involved.  
• ASCD Professional Interest Communities are member-initiated, special-interest groups designed to unite people around a common area of interest in the field of education.This is a unique opportunity for student chapter members to exchange ideas and establish relationships among professionals. 
• Sign up to be an educator advocate. Student chapter members can learn about education policy and politics affecting the education field, get involved by joining with colleagues to help lawmakers make the best education decisions, and ultimately help make a difference for schools and students. 
• Attend the Leadership Institute for Legislative Advocacy (LILA) conference. This ASCD event, held every January in Washington, D.C., is an advocacy capacity-building program with the goal of increasing educator advocates' level of influence throughout the year.
• Learn about The Whole Child Initiative. This approach to education ensures each child, in each school, in each community is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.
• Attend the Leader to Leader (L2L) Conference, held every July in the Washington, D.C., area. The L2L Conference is devoted to connecting ASCD leaders to one another through networking, skill-building, and content sharing. This is an excellent opportunity for student chapter members to attend and meet various ASCD leaders as well as other student chapter members.
• Download our Sample Student Chapter Program Plan (PDF). This is a general timeline of things to think about with your chapter throughout the school year.