R.E.A.L. Econ for All Conference

Economics and Personal Finance Education Conference

The R.E.A.L. Econ for All Conference offers multiple days of FREE, Relevant, Engaging, Activity-based Learning professional development opportunities for PreK-12 educators across Arkansas, delivered through in-person and virtual conference experiences.

The experience begins with a statewide virtual conference in June, followed by a full week of in-person learning in July, including pre-conference workshops, a two-day conference, and post-conference sessions. Sessions are led by trusted partners and experts from education, business, and industry, with full details coming soon.

Virtual R.E.A.L. Conference

June 11, 2026 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Statewide, Online

Join us for a statewide virtual R.E.A.L. Econ for All Conference designed for PreK–12 educators across Arkansas. Throughout the day, participants can explore topics in economics, personal finance, and entrepreneurship while learning from education, business, and industry leaders from Arkansas and beyond.

Educators may sign up through our event calendar, and will receive access to official conference registration in May, when session selection will open. With multiple sessions offered each hour, participants can build a schedule that fits their interests and classroom needs.

Benefits for Arkansas educators under contract for the 2026-2027 school year:

Earn 1 hour of ADE-approved professional development credit for each completed session (up to 6 hours)
$10 e-Check per completed session (up to $60)
Ready-to-use classroom resources

Entrepreneurship Track Sponsor Highlight

Thanks to the generous support of ACC Capital, the conference will feature a dedicated entrepreneurship track throughout the day.

R.E.A.L. Pre-Conference: Economics and Personal Finance Lessons for Effective Decision Making

July 6, 2026 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Union Station (Virginia Bailey Conference Center), Little Rock

Kick off a week of R.E.A.L. learning with an interactive, hands-on workshop designed for 6th–12th grade educators. Led by Megan Kirts, Executive Director of Econiful, this session will immerse participants in engaging economics and personal finance lessons, including simulations and games that help students make well-reasoned decisions in their personal, professional, and civic lives.

Participants will explore an award-winning, 80-lesson curriculum grounded in four principles of economic thinking, along with practical teaching strategies and meaningful assessments. This full-day experience is designed to leave you inspired, equipped, and ready to bring real-world learning into your classroom. Educators may sign up through our event calendar.

Benefits for Arkansas educators under contract for the 2026-2027 school year:

Earn 6 hours of ADE-approved professional development credit
$60 e-Check stipend
Ready-to-use classroom resources
Lunch provided

R.E.A.L. Pre-Conference: Pillars of Freedom: Economic Thinking, Personal Finance & Character

July 7, 2026 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

ASU System Office at Winthrop Rockefeller Building, Little Rock

Join the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) for a full-day pre-conference workshop designed to help PreK–12 educators bring economics to life through real-world application. This day explores the economic way of thinking, helping teachers move beyond formulas and guide students in understanding how incentives, trade-offs, and decision-making shape everyday outcomes.

Participants will engage in discussion-driven activities and explore how institutions, innovation, and personal responsibility influence economic progress. The afternoon shifts to personal finance, featuring classroom-ready resources that support teaching budgeting, saving, investing, and long-term financial planning. This workshop blends economic reasoning with practical financial skills to help students make informed decisions and better understand the world around them. Educators may sign up through our event calendar.

Benefits for Arkansas educators under contract for the 2026-2027 school year:

Earn 6 hours of ADE-approved professional development credit
$60 e-Check stipend
Ready-to-use classroom resources
Lunch provided

R.E.A.L. Econ for All Conference

July 8-9, 2026 | 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM daily

Pinnacle View Middle School, Little Rock

Join us for two days of in-person R.E.A.L. Econ for All Conference professional development, featuring engaging sessions in economics, personal finance, and entrepreneurship for PreK–12 educators. Thanks to generous support from First Security Bank, sessions are led by experts from education, business, and industry, offering practical strategies and real-world connections you can take directly into your classroom.

Educators may sign up through our event calendar (July 8 | July 9), and will receive access to official conference registration in May, when session selection will open. With a wide range of sessions offered each day, participants can build a schedule that fits their interests and classroom needs.

Each day includes a keynote session during lunch, which counts toward 1 hour of professional development credit.

Benefits for Arkansas educators under contract for the 2026-2027 school year:

Earn 1 hour of ADE-approved professional development credit for each completed session (up to 6 hours per day)
$10 e-Check per completed session (up to $60 per day)
Ready-to-use classroom resources
Lunch provided each day

R.E.A.L. Post-Conference: An Economics Approach to American Civics

July 10, 2026 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Arkansas Civics Education Center, Little Rock

Wrap up the week with a one day, intensive professional development experience designed for PreK–12 educators that brings economic reasoning into civics instruction. Hosted by the Foundation for Teaching Economics, this workshop uses immersive, hands-on simulations to help students understand how incentives, trade offs, and decision making shape government and civic life.

Educators will move through three signature simulations, Jamestown, the Congressional Trading Floor, and the Presidential Decision Matrix, gaining both content knowledge and confidence in facilitating these experiences with students. This workshop blends economics and civics in a practical, engaging way, leaving teachers with adaptable strategies and tools they can immediately implement in their classrooms. Educators may sign up through our event calendar.

Benefits for Arkansas educators under contract for the 2026-2027 school year:

Earn 6 hours of ADE-approved professional development credit
$60 virtual Visa gift card
Ready-to-use classroom resources
Lunch provided

PLEASE NOTE:

Educators under contract for the 2026-2027 academic year will receive all benefits listed. Educators not under contract are only eligible to receive professional development credit.

Important Tax Information for Teachers:

Please be aware that Economics Arkansas is required by IRS regulations to provide a 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC to persons who receive $600 in payments or more in a calendar year. In order to provide this to the IRS, a current, complete W-9 must be on file with our office when the $600 threshold is being met. You agree to provide this form to our office if you reach this limit and understand you will not be paid any additional monies until the form is on file.

2025 REAL Conference Photos

Photography by Braden Mitchell Photography
2024 REAL Conference Photos

Photography by Brent Walker Films

I feel like economics is such an important topic to be teaching to our Arkansas students. The ideas provided by Economics Arkansas are fun and easy to implement in our classrooms. The students are able to learn skills they can use throughout their life.

Shannon Chrisman, Ozark Middle School, 2020

I attended Economics Arkansas' R.E.A.L. professional development for the first time this summer. I was blown away by the number of resources that were given to help in my classrooms. I look forward to attending again to deepen my understanding and skills to educate students about economic topics.

Jody Rogers, Arch Ford Non-Traditional Learning, 2022

LiveBinder & Padlet Archives from previous REAL Conferences
(Access Key: Economics Arkansas)

Thank You Donors

AR Capital Corporation logo
ARVEST logo
Bank of America logo
R.E. Lee Wilson Trust
Stephens
Tyson