FAQ
Frequently asked questions for Spark 25
Registration FAQ
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Online registration is now closed, but onsite registration will be available! Just stop by the registration desk when you arrive—our staff will be there and ready to assist you.
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Registration Deadline: May 9th
After May 9th, onsite registration will be available for an additional fee.
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If your organization needs to register multiple attendees (15 or more), APSRC will automatically apply a discount to your invoice.
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If you're unable to attend and someone from your organization is able to take your place, please contact us. We'll cancel your registration and do our best to transfer the spot to the new attendee, at no additional cost to your school. However, if you paid using a personal credit card, we recommend canceling your registration and having the new attendee register separately to avoid any complications.
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If you can no longer attend, please reach out to us. Our cancellation policy is as follows:
100% if you cancel by May 1st, 2025
50% if you cancel by May 10th, 2025
0% if you cancel after May 18th, 2025
Have extenuating circumstances? Reach out to us, and we’ll be happy to assess your situation and consider a refund if warranted.
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When registering individually, you can pay by credit card or use a coupon code to zero out your balance. In this case, we’ll issue a purchase order instead. If you're registering multiple participants, payment must be made via purchase order (check).
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Yes, when you register through Discere, you will receive an automatic confirmation email with a calendar attachment and event details, along with event reminders leading up to the event.
If you're registering multiple attendees for your organization, we'll contact you to confirm that the designated individuals are successfully registered. Each attendee will also receive their own registration confirmation email from their Discere account.
Venue FAQ
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The Spark 2025 Symposium will be held at the Little Rock Statehouse Convention Center.
You can learn more about the venue at: https://www.littlerock.com/statehouse-convention-center/
Address: 101 E Markham St Little Rock, AR 72201
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The Statehouse Convention Center has provided details regarding directions and parking access, available at https://www.littlerock.com/statehouse-convention-center/plan/access-parking/
There are three adjacent parking decks and surface parking areas offering 1,850 spaces • Hundreds more spaces of on-street parking are available within blocks.
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Yes, the venue is accessible for individuals with disabilities.
Please refer to the following resource or contact us directly for questions.
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APSRC has reserved a two complimentary room blocks, one with the Hilton Double Tree and one with the Capital Hotel.
To access the room block rate with the Capital Hotel, please reference APSRC.
To access the room block at the Hilton Double Tree, in Downtown Little Rock you can click here.
Or follow the step-by-step instructions below to reserve your room with the group block.
Step by Step Directions:
Go to doubletreelr.com
Enter arrival/departure dates
Click the "Special Rates" box
Enter "90G" in the Group Code box
Click the "Check Rooms & Rates" box. The group rate of $133.00 per night is available for Standard King and Double Queen rooms.
Guests can also call 1-800-HILTONS and reference the AR Public School Resource Center room block to receive the discount.
Rooms can be booked at the group rate until 04/19/2025 or until the block is sold out.
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APSRC will provide a light breakfast during registration. A sit-down lunch will be served in the main meeting room for all attendees. You can select your lunch preference—chicken, fish, or vegetarian—during the registration process.
Complimentary Wi-Fi will be available throughout the venue for your convenience.Complimentary wireless internet is available throughout the facility.
General Questions
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Whether you're a charter school leader, educator, or community member, this symposium is an excellent platform to connect with peers, gain insights, and celebrate the achievements of the charter school community.
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The Spark 2025 Symposium is a revamped event is designed to offer even more opportunities for interaction, engagement, and networking than ever before. The event focus is coming together to spark ideas, connection, and growth.
Learn more about what to expect: https://www.apsrc.net/bulletin/spark2025
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While we will not be recording presentations or sessions for post-event access, we will ensure that all attendees receive the materials shared by speakers and presenters, so you can review them after the event.
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Spark 25 is a completely in person event.
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Our 2025 symposium will feature exciting new formats that encourage collaboration and meaningful conversations. Attendees can look forward to:
Roundtable Discussions: These interactive sessions will allow you to engage directly with fellow attendees, share ideas, and explore solutions to current challenges in the charter school landscape. Choose from two different presentations or roundtable discussions in each breakout track, ensuring you get the most relevant insights for your needs.
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Upon registering for the symposium, you will be able to select from the following meal options. If you have additional dietary restrictions, please reach out to us.
Sorghum Brined Chicken (DF, EF, NF, SFF, SF, GF) Creamy Polenta (GF, EF, NF, SFF, SF, VEG) Roasted Vegetables (GF, EF, NF, SFF, VEG, V, DF) Sorghum Demi (GF, EF, NF, SFF, DF)
Maple Soy Salmon (GF, NF, EF, SF) Wild Rice (GF, NF, EF, SF, VEG, V) Fried Brussel Sprouts (EF, NF, SFF, VEG, V, DF)
Vegetarian
Schedule
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Spark 25 is taking place on Tuesday, May 20th, 2025; with registration beginning at 8:15 A.M.
8:15 - 9:00 A.M. Registration
9:00 - 10:00 A.M. Welcome & Morning Keynote
10:00 - 10:45 A.M. Break with Sponsors
10:45 - 11:55 A.M. Spark Zones: Track 1
12:00 - 1:30 P.M. Working Lunch with Legislative Q&A Panel
1:40 - 2:50 P.M. Spark Zones: Track 2
2:50 - 3:00 P.M. Break
3:00 - 3:30 P.M. Awards & Door Prizes
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The schedule is available under the "Schedule" tab at the top of the Spark website.
Click here for the full schedule or here to view the Spark Zones.
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Our 2025 symposium will feature exciting new formats that encourage collaboration and meaningful conversations. Attendees can look forward to:
Presentation from Our Keynote Speaker: Hear from our keynote speaker Baruti Kafele, Education Speaker and Consultant at Principal Kafele Consulting, LLC. A glimpse of his bio and more details, along with the full speaker lineup, can be found on the Speaker tab.
Roundtable Discussions: Engage directly with fellow attendees, share ideas, and explore solutions to current challenges in the charter school landscape. Choose from two different presentations or roundtable discussions in each breakout track to ensure you get the most relevant insights for your needs.
Legislative Q&A Lunch Session: A unique opportunity to interact with a panel of legislative experts, offering you the chance to ask questions and gain insight into the latest legislative developments affecting charter schools.
Awards Ceremony: Celebrate the achievements of those who have made significant contributions to the charter school field, honoring the hard work and dedication of your peers.
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Yes, there will be multiple breaks throughout the day, including a break with sponsors in the morning.
Speakers & Presenters
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We’re excited to be curating an exceptional lineup of speakers for the Spark 2025 Symposium! This year, our keynote speaker is Baruti Kafele, Education Speaker and Consultant at Principal Kafele Consulting, LLC. A glimpse of his bio and more details, along with the full speaker lineup, can be found on the Speaker tab.
Attendees will also hear from speakers during the Legislative Q&A Lunch Session, a unique opportunity to interact with a panel of legislative experts, offering you the chance to ask questions and gain insight into the latest legislative developments affecting charter schools.
We will also have legislators for the Legislative Panel during lunch present.
Learn more about this year’s lineup at the Speaker tab.
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Spark 25 will feature a variety of new formats that encourage collaboration and meaningful conversations.
Attendees can expect:
Roundtable Discussions: These interactive sessions will allow you to engage directly with fellow attendees, share ideas, and explore solutions to current challenges in the charter school landscape. Choose from two different presentations or roundtable discussions in each breakout track, ensuring you get the most relevant insights for your needs.
Legislative Q&A Lunch Session: This unique opportunity will feature a panel of legislative experts, offering you the chance to ask questions and gain insight into the latest legislative developments affecting charter schools.
Insightful Presentations from Keynote Speakers: Hear from influential leaders in the education space as they share their perspectives on trends, challenges, and future developments in the charter school sector.
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APSRC will provide any materials and contact information made available by the speakers to attendees after the event via email.
Sponsors
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While sponsorship applications for this event are now closed, we invite you to explore our sponsorship tiers for the upcoming fall conference by clicking here.
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We are excited to introduce the organizations, companies, and businesses that are proudly sponsoring the Spark Symposium for Charter Schools. Their support plays a vital role in making this event possible. Get to know these incredible partners who are as committed to education as we are! Click here to learn more.
For further questions, please reach out to mhall@apsrc.net
Event Details
Tuesday, May 20th, 2025
State House Convention Center