Position Statements

The National Council of Teachers of English is guided by the expertise of its members and the mission and vision that drive our work. Our field is one that undergoes constant evolution because language and the circumstances in which we use it are constantly changing. The Council aims to support its members as they navigate these changes through statements by our members for our members that bring the latest thinking and research together to help define best practices, offer guidance for navigating challenges, and provide an expert voice to back up the thoughtful decisions teachers must make each day.

In addition to position statements on education issues that are approved by the NCTE Board of Directors or the NCTE Executive Committee, NCTE may also publish on its website guidelines that are found to be consistent with NCTE positions on education issues.

Also published on this website are position statements that have been approved by the Executive Committees of other Council groups. NCTE members may also propose position statements and guidelines.

Please note that any of the posted materials on these Position Statement pages may be printed, copied, and disseminated without permission from NCTE.

Resolutions

Under the NCTE Constitution, resolutions offer a collective, collaborative, and creative opportunity for members to bring current matters in literacy education stimulating concern, emergent opportunities, and areas of import to the formal attention of NCTE’s elected leaders. A majority of those present and voting at the Annual Business Meeting for the Board of Directors and Other Members of the Council, which occurs during NCTE’s Annual Convention each November, shall be required for approval of a resolution. Each resolution so approved will be presented to the entire membership for vote and comment. The results will be considered and discussed by the NCTE Executive Committee.

More information about resolutions, including instructions for submitting a resolution, is available here. The annual deadline is October 15.

When Are Resolutions Reviewed and Considered?

The Committee on Resolutions reviews and edits submissions and makes the final decisions about which resolutions will be considered by members attending the Annual Business Meeting. Criteria for those decisions include the resolution’s consistency with the NCTE Constitution and NCTE’s stated purposes and goals and the existence of previous resolutions on a topic.

At an Open Hearing at the NCTE Annual Convention, copies of the resolutions drafts are available for review. NCTE members may offer opinions about proposed resolutions. The Committee hears commentary and suggestions about the resolutions drafts, makes final wording adjustments, and presents the drafts to those attending the Annual Business Meeting. Discussion and voting take place during the Annual Business Meeting.

When Do Members Vote on the Resolutions?

The vote during the Annual Convention is to determine which resolutions go forward to the entire membership. In January every NCTE member is asked to cast a vote and provide comment on each resolution. Even if you voted during the Annual Convention to move the resolutions forward, you’re encouraged to vote along with the entire membership.

The results of the member vote are then considered and discussed by the NCTE Executive Committee.

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