Author Alane Adams and the Rise Up Foundation have expanded a grant to NCTE to provide scholarship funding for 100 K–12 educators to attend the 2026 NCTE Annual Convention.
First launched in 2025, the Rise Up Foundation Scholarship program has grown in size to support elementary, middle and high school educators to deepen their professional practice and honor their expertise.
K–12 educators, including classroom teachers and librarians, are invited to apply by September 12 for a scholarship. Recipients will receive:
- Full Convention registration. Scholarship recipients receive full access to all four days of sessions, keynote speakers, networking events, and the Exhibit Hall.
- A luncheon ticket. Recipients may choose to attend the Children’s Book Awards Luncheon, the Middle Level Section Luncheon, or the Secondary Luncheon. Convention luncheons provide unique opportunities to connect with peers, authors, and thought leaders in youth literature and literacy instruction.
Recipients will also be invited to attend a special new event hosted by Adams, founder of Rise Up, to kick off the Convention for first-time attendees.
Award Criteria
Applicants must:
- be NCTE members;
- be K–12 educators in a student-facing role;
- Attend the Convention from Thursday, November 19, through Sunday, November 22; and
- apply for themselves. Applications on behalf of another person will be denied.
Applicants may:
- live or work inside or outside of the US or in a US territory and
- be at any stage of their teaching careers. Applicants who have been teaching for 10 years or fewer or have never attended a Convention will receive priority.
Application deadline: September 12, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET
All applicants will be notified in late September or early October of their scholarship status.
APPLY HERE
About the Rise Up Foundation and Alane Adams
Founded in 2008 by author and literacy advocate Alane Adams, the Rise Up Foundation supports literacy-focused classroom initiatives by providing teachers with resources, training, and opportunities that empower them to help students thrive—especially in under-resourced communities. Alane has written several historical picture books and middle-grade book series, including the Witches of Orkney series and its debut book The Blue Witch, which is also available as a video read-along and PDF for educational purposes.
Learn more at riseupfoundation.org.