The Sphere Education Initiative works with grades 5–12 educators to advance free speech, civil discourse, and civic culture. The project grew out of Project Sphere, a collaboration of the Cato Institute and Brookings Institution, which features discussions of policy issues of the day from three different perspectives.

As a 501(c)3 organization, our events, educational programming, and professional development opportunities are exclusively nonpartisan. We bring together experts from across the ideological spectrum and from a wide diversity of experiences and backgrounds to engage educators on the most pressing topics of the day. Sphere programming does not advocate for any policy position but strives to inform educators about the breadth and diversity of positions on any given topic so that they are well equipped to support discussion among students.

Click here for examples of past Sphere programming and to learn more about our topics and speakers.

Sphere works with the premier professional development organizations covering civics, history, economics, and media literacy. All the groups we work with provide exceptional, unbiased, and nonpartisan professional development opportunities for all educators.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, all funding for Sphere Education Initiatives comes from a wide variety of individual donors and family foundations. Across the board, these are people gravely concerned about the lack of civil discourse in society and the importance of education in America.

The Sphere Education Initiative is housed at the Cato Institute but is not a part of any of the policy efforts of any of those departments. We are a separate educational project, with strictly nonpartisan and nonideological aims.

Of the over 3,000 alumni of Sphere, the vast majority are public school teachers, most of whom are union members. They represent a wide diversity of subject areas, school types, and ideological backgrounds. What they have in common is a passion for civil discourse and helping their students be more successful. We’re proud of the work that they do.

Applicants will be notified of their status on a rolling basis, typically within 3–4 weeks of submitting. The deadline for applications is Friday, June 30, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Applicants who are accepted will be directed to registration information.

Applicants may only apply to and attend one Summit.

The Foundations of Civic Culture is best for educators new to Sphere Summit and administrators. Incorporating Civic Culture into Advanced Subjects is best for alumni of a previous Sphere Summit, those teaching AP, IB, or similar advanced subjects.

All applicants will be considered for both Summits and may be offered either Summit at the discretion of Sphere Education Initiatives. Please apply to the Summit that works best for your schedule or matches your personal interests.

Grades 5–12 educators and administrators from schools from across the country may apply to the Sphere Summit.

Yes, educators from the same school may attend the Sphere Summit. Whole departments and colleagues from across schools are strongly encouraged to apply.

There is no fee to attend the Summit, but an application is required.

The Cato Institute will provide a $500 stiped to offset the cost of travel expenses upon the completion of the Summit. Participants are responsible for any travel expenses that exceed that amount. Participants should be prepared to pay for all personal expenses, additional nights, and incidentals, such as phone calls, room service, or extra meals.

The Cato Institute provides room and board for four days for in‐​person attendees, starting with dinner on Sunday, July 9, and ending with breakfast on Thursday, July 13, for the first Summit and starting with dinner on Sunday, July 23, and ending with breakfast on Thursday, July 27, for the second Summit.

Each in‐​person seminar participant is eligible to receive a stiped of $500 upon completion of the Summit. Please note that we are unable to provide supplemental funding in cases where the stipend is insufficient to cover all travel expenses. Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from the Summit. Failure to complete the Summit may result in a delay or denial of the stipend.

If, for some reason, you are unable to attend the Sphere Summit, you must notify Cato in writing of your cancellation as soon as possible to allow for another recipient to be invited. If you cancel, you agree to pay a $75 cancellation fee. You will also assume this charge if you fail to attend all scheduled events, engage in disruptive behavior toward other attendees or hotel guests, or are responsible for any destruction of property. Please note that the fee for cancellation will increase to $250 within two weeks of the start of Summit (June 25 and July 9).

Our goal is to host two in‐​person summer seminars in 2023. We will continue to monitor the situation with COVID-19 in 2023. As we approach the summer, we may need to adjust the Summit. To keep you informed of potential program changes due to pandemic restrictions, we will contact you directly and post updates on our Sphere Summit website.

Participants are expected to attend all the sessions during the Sphere Summit. This includes lectures, workshops, breakouts, and meals that are scheduled during the Summit.

Participants will receive a certificate of completion as well as complimentary copies of all books, Summit materials, and classroom resources.

Participants will stay at the Courtyard by Marriott Washington Downtown/​Convention Center. For the first Summit, the check‐​in date is Sunday, July 9, and the checkout date is Thursday, July 13. For the second Summit, the check‐​in date is Sunday, July 23, and the checkout date is Thursday, July 27. Hotel accommodations are provided only for the duration of the seminar. Room fees and taxes are covered for the nights of July 9–12 and July 23–26. Participants are responsible for additional nights and any hotel incidentals, such as personal expenses, phone calls, room service, or extra meals.

We are unable to accommodate family and friends.

Yes. If you live in Washington, DC, or the surrounding areas, you are welcome to commute to the seminar every morning, however parking is unavailable at the Cato Institute and is limited in the surrounding neighborhood.

No, you cannot defer your position. We encourage you to apply again but cannot guarantee your acceptance at a later time.

A determination of professional development hours will be made when the final program is released closer to the start of the program.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop computers or tablets for notetaking and workshops, but not required.

Yes, complimentary wireless internet access is available at the Cato Institute and at the hotel.