NAIS Emergent Design Lab (EDL)

Registration for the 2025 NAIS Emergent Design Lab (EDL) is now open.

Register Now

2025 NAIS Emergent Design Lab (EDL)
Legal Literacy: Designing for Inclusive Excellence in Today’s Education Landscape
July 8–9, 2025
NAIS Headquarters, Washington, DC

The NAIS Emergent Design Lab (EDL) is a leadership and professional development experience that encourages participants to use and share design principles, action research, collaborative skill-building, and best and emerging practices. Together we develop innovative solutions and models that independent schools can use to address challenges and opportunities related to inclusion and social responsibility inside and out of the classroom. 

Emergent design is a human-centered, constructivist approach to planning and development. Emergent design seeks to adapt and respond to a project’s unique environmental conditions, rather than forcing implementation of a standardized or static planning approach. Emergent design invites participation by those most impacted by any change envisioned to better plan and respond to challenges and opportunities in informed and collaborative ways.  

2025 Emergent Design Lab: Legal Literacy: Designing for Inclusive Excellence in Today’s Education Landscape

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) enjoys support among a majority of the American public. Yet it is also facing dramatic social, legal, and political headwinds. How can independent schools design programs that navigate the current cultural and legal landscape and promote fairness and belonging for all students?

In the 2025 EDL, Kenji Yoshino from NYU's Meltzer Center will explore the implications of the anti-DEI movement on K-12 education. He'll share case studies and offer practical guidance to help schools mitigate legal risks and build broad-based support for their programs.

Using principles of emergent design, participants will work collaboratively to develop innovative solutions to address challenges and opportunities related to inclusion at their schools.

Audience

EDL designers recommend participants register in school teams, if possible. Teams can consist of: 

  • Heads of school
  • Division heads
  • Senior administrators
  • Diversity directors and educators
  • Student support staff
  • HR professionals

Registration Information 

Registration for the 2025 NAIS Emergent Design Lab is now open.

Registration Pricing Early Bird Pricing
(Through 4/29)		 Standard Pricing
(On or After 4/30)
Member Price $1,575 $1,800
Nonmember Price* $2,050 $2,275

*Contact us for more information about the benefits of NAIS membership, including discounted event pricing.

Hotel Accommodations

NAIS has reserved a block of rooms at the discounted rate of $189/night (plus tax) at the St. Gregory Hotel (2033 M St. NW, Washington, DC 20036). Book your room here by June 13 to get the discounted rate. The institute takes place at NAIS Headquarters, a short walk from the St. Gregory Hotel.   

Schedule

A detailed schedule will be shared closer to the program start. Please plan to arrive at the NAIS Headquarters by 8:30 AM ET on July 8 (breakfast will be available beginning at 7:45 AM ET) and depart no earlier than 4:30 PM ET on July 9.

2025 Faculty

  • Kenji Yoshino, Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law, New York University School of Law

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be received in writing at institutes@nais.org. Cancellations received up to 30 days before the program's start date (June 8) will be fully refunded, less a $75 administrative fee. Cancellations received less than 30 days prior to the program will not be refunded.

Contact Information

Please contact institutes@nais.org or 202-973-9700 with any questions.