The Begin Early Learning Summit at EdTech Week
Shaping the future of early childhood
Join a select group of educators, researchers, policymakers, investors, founders, and philanthropists for a day of meaningful conversation, connection, and action.
A pivotal moment
Early learning is at a pivotal moment. As families face growing challenges, schools welcome children with increasingly diverse needs, and AI reshapes education, leaders across sectors must come together to chart a better path forward.
Begin is proud to host the third annual, invitation-only Early Learning Summit, a gathering of the brightest minds, innovators, and decision-makers shaping the future of early childhood education and parenting.
Together, we have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to imagine and build a better path forward for children, educators, and families. This year's Summit will establish national priorities for child and family wellbeing, grow a diverse coalition of child advocates, and cultivate cross-sector conversation to advance a brighter future for all kids and families.
Our Focus
Kids aren't broken. The systems are.
The Begin Early Learning Summit convenes 100+ senior leaders across research, education, policy, philanthropy, and edtech for one focused day within EdTech Week.
Kindergartners are arriving less prepared than ever to regulate, focus, and learn, not because something is wrong with them, but because the systems around them haven't caught up to how children actually develop. Literacy remains a systems failure, not a child failure. Families are overwhelmed and under-supported. And AI and new models are moving faster than research, policy, or practice can absorb.
The 2026 Summit is built around one animating question
What will it take to build systems (at home, in the classroom, and in the community) that are actually designed for how children think, feel, and grow?
Every session pulls this thread through a different layer of the system: the child's own capacity (the curiosity and drive to build ideas that's already there, and routinely overlooked), the systems that either feed or starve it (literacy as the clearest proof point), the people first responsible for nurturing it (parents and teachers), and the tools, models, and capital reshaping all three.
Voices at the table
Speakers & Attendees
2026 speakers will be announced soon. Past speakers and attendees include:
Voices at the table
Speakers
The 2026 speaker lineup is being curated. Announcements coming soon.
In the room
Previous attendees & speakers represent
…and many more across education, media, research, philanthropy, and venture.
One day, by design
Agenda
The 2026 program is in development. The day will follow the structure of past summits, with keynotes, panels, fireside chats, and intentional networking. The 2025 Agenda:
One day, by design
Agenda
A full day of keynotes, panels, fireside chats, and intentional networking. The 2026 program will be published soon.
Last year's summit
Supported by
The A.L. Mailman Family Foundation
The Early Learning Summit is proudly supported by the A.L. Mailman Family Foundation, whose commitment to improving outcomes for children and families helps make this convening possible.
Join us
Received an invitation?
Complete your registration below. The Summit is invitation only, and these details help our events team prepare for your visit.
Get in touch
Contact
For questions about attendance, partnerships, or programming:
summit@beginlearning.com