2026 Summit Registration Now Open
Public Policy & Advocacy Summit
September 14–16, 2026 | Washington, D.C.
Public Policy & Advocacy Summit - Washington, D.C. | September 14–16, 2026
Join us in Washington, D.C., for the Public Policy & Advocacy Summit, designed to equip and inform Christian education leaders, students, and advocates as they develop a deeper understanding of today’s public policy landscape.
More than a conference, the Summit provides professional learning and leadership development through practical insight, skill building, and collaborative dialogue with peers committed to protecting religious freedom and advancing Christian education.
- Student Track Returns! — Designed to equip the next generation with practical advocacy training, mentoring, and meaningful engagement opportunities.
- Leading Voices in Faith, Law and Culture — Featuring Kristen Waggoner, CEO, Chief Counsel, and President of Alliance Defending Freedom, Sam Allberry, pastor/author/speaker, and more coming soon!
- Timely Policy & Advocacy Sessions — In-depth conversations on the most pressing legislative and cultural issues impacting Christian schools, families, and faith-based institutions.
- Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Symposium — A focused symposium covering current federal scholarship tax credit policy, implementation considerations, and key insights to help school leaders understand how these programs work and what they mean for Christian schools.
- Opening Night Reception & Gala — A formal evening at the Hilton Arlington National Landing offering meaningful connection with fellow leaders and featured speakers.
- Immersive Experiences in the Nation's Capital — Experience Washington, D.C., while gaining firsthand perspective on the policy environment shaping our schools and communities.
Schedule coming soon!
2026 Speakers
Kristen Waggoner
CEO, President, and Chief Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom
Kristen Waggoner is the CEO, President, and Chief Counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom: the world’s largest legal organization advancing every person’s God-given right to live and speak the truth. With more than 450 team members in 10 offices worldwide, ADF is at the forefront of today’s most consequential battles in law, public policy, and culture.
Under Waggoner’s leadership—first as head of U.S. litigation and now as CEO—ADF has played a role in nearly 80 U.S. Supreme Court victories and won 15 of its own cases before the Court, including serving as legal counsel with Mississippi in the landmark ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. Waggoner personally argued several of ADF’s Supreme Court cases including the well-known and cases, winning major victories for free expression.
She has the honor of leading ADF International, which, like its U.S. counterpart, defends religious liberty, free speech, parental rights, human life, and biological reality around the world. ADFI has a strong record of success at the European Court of Human Rights, the United Nations, and other international tribunals, while securing the release of more than 2,000 imprisoned Christians and the reopening of more than 1,000 churches.
In her speeches, articles, and media appearances, Waggoner loves to tell the stories of ADF’s clients and cases, connecting them to the larger themes shaping our culture and public life. She is passionate about defending truth and freedom as essential values for human flourishing.
After law school, Waggoner clerked at the Washington Supreme Court and spent over 15 years at a Seattle law firm before joining ADF.
Sam Allberry
Pastor, Author, Speaker
Sam Allberry is a pastor, apologist and speaker. He is the author of a number of books, including Is God Anti-Gay?, Why Bother with Church?, 7 Myths about Singleness, and What God Has To Say About Our Bodies.
He has written extensively for numerous organizations, including , , and .
Coming Soon
Additional Speakers
Accommodations
Hotel Accommodations
$269 a night
Hilton Arlington National Landing
Arlington, VA 22202
- Nearby airports – Less than one mile from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- Complimentary shuttle service to and from DCA, Crystal City Metro station, nearby shopping, restaurants and businesses.
- Three block walk to Crystal City metro station
Track
Student Leadership Track
The PPA Summit Student Track offers high school students the chance to participate in ACSI’s annual Public Policy & Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. Students will gain meaningful exposure to policymaking, engage in leadership development, and grow advocacy skills alongside Christian educators and leaders from across the nation.
Student Track Experiences
Students will participate in a dynamic schedule designed to educate, inspire, and equip them as emerging leaders, including:
- Opening Gala
- Bill Briefings
- Student Breakout Sessions
- Meeting with State Representatives
- Hill Visits & Advocacy Exposure
- National Mall Excursion
Limited to 40 students | $350 per student
Previous Summit Speakers & Entertainers
- Dr. Os Guinness, Author
- Dr. Rebecca McLaughlin, Author
- Steve Begoo, BSc PGCE NPQH, Head of Education, Christian Concern UK
- Greg Chafuen, Senior Counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom's Center for Public Policy
- Valerie Londono, Senior Counsel, Church and Ministry Alliance Deputy Director
- Hannah Ruth Earl, Director of the Center for Faith at the U.S. Department of Education
- Dr. Ben Carson, Former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, retired Neurosurgeon, Academic, and Author
- Dr. Carl R. Trueman, Professor, Author, and Theologian
- Selah, Gospel Music Group with 4 million records and 11 GMA Dove Awards
- Barry Black, Ph.D., D.Min, D.D., L.H.D, D.P.S RADMU, USN (Retired), US Senate Chaplain
- Dr. Mark Batterson, Pastor of National Community Church, New York Times Best selling
- Honorable Michele Bachmann, J.D., LL.M, Former United States Representative
- Gregory S. Baylor, Director, Center for Religious Schools, and Senior Counsel, Center for Legislative Advocacy of the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)
- Hon. Winsome Earle-Sears, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
- Dr. Michael Lindsay, President of Taylor University
- Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Missouri)
- Senator James Lankford (R-Oklahoma)
- Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas)
- Hon. Patricia Puertas Rucker, West Virginia State Senator
- John Schilling, former President of American Federation for Children
- Dr. Stanley Carlson-Thies, Founder and Senior Director of the Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance (IRFA), a division of the Center for Public Justice.
- and many more!
Email lisa_hernandez@acsi.org to learn more.