Inside the exhibit hall at the AASA national conference in Los Angeles, attendees will find the Knowledge Exchange Theatre, the social media lounge, dozens of roundtable presentations and more than 190 exhibitors ready to answer questions about services and products in K-12 education. About 40 percent of the exhibitors are first-timers at the AASA conference.

The product and service providers represent an array of fields in K-12 schooling — technology, student assessment, educational and administrative software, executive search services, financial services, facility and grounds maintenance, professional development, school safety, health and transportation. Several nonprofits and professional organizations also are represented. (See the conference program book and program addendum for full list.)

Conference-goers will find Thought Leader sessions on Thursday, Feb. 14, and Friday, Feb. 15, in the Knowledge Exchange Theatre. Sessions run 60 minutes. (See schedule in the conference program book.)

Tucked away in one corner of the exhibit hall are a dozen tables, the site of roundtable discussions over two days. These 30-minute sessions cover a full range of topics, including social-emotional learning, safe schools, the opioid crisis, digital engagement strategies and equity. (See the conference program pages 36-48 and pages 78-97 for details.)

Twelve AASA School Solution Center partners will be exhibiting this year: Sourcewell, the premier partner (booth 638), CitizenAID (booth 307), CrisisGo (booth 228), Diamond Assets (booth 314), ECRA Group (booth 518), GotZoom (booth 550), National Fire Adjustment Co. (booth 319), Orange Frog by International Thought Leader Network (booth 639); Orgametrics by Infinity Systems (booth 607), Jason Learning (booth 425), National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (booth 608) and Wonder Media Story Maker (booth 740).

An internet station is located on the floor of the NCE marketplace so attendees are able to check e-mail. Tech-savvy educators and those who want to learn more can take advantage of the personal hands-on help at the Social Media Lounge.

Marketplace hours are 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 14 and 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 15. Free coffee will be available in the NCE Marketplace from 7:45-9 a.m. on the first day, and free snacks are available 1:45-2:45 p.m. on the second day.

(Liz Griffin is senior reporter of Conference Daily Online.)