Awards

NCTE Affiliate Multicultural Program Award

Award Details

Purpose
To encourage and honor those affiliates who adopt programs, policies, activities, and other events which will promote diverse membership and multicultural resources, literature, topics, and speakers, as well as advance multicultural programming. 

Who Can Participate 
Any affiliate of NCTE is eligible for the award, except winners of the previous year’s awards. Programs should be designed to meet the needs of the respective affiliate, their population, and their unique qualities. Some possible ideas include 

• launching a membership drive for underrepresented groups; 
• adding multicultural topics of interest at conferences (e.g., strands at the national conferences); 
• increasing visibility of culturally diverse members as conference presenters, speakers, and officers; 
• planning special multicultural events that relate to English language arts such as literary celebrations during Hispanic Heritage Month, Kwanzaa, and other cultural celebrations; 
• promoting multiculturalism through activities such as African American Read-Ins and reading groups focused on ethnic literature; and
• whatever creative ideas affiliates may develop! 

Frequency/Number of Awards 
Up to five awards will be given at the Affiliate Breakfast at each year’s NCTE Annual Convention. 

Award Specifics 
The award consists of a certificate presented to each winning affiliate. 

Award Criteria and Deadline 
The previous year’s award winners are ineligible to participate. Each affiliate will determine how they have expanded and extended their multicultural reach during the year, based upon the purpose of the award. Affiliates nominate themselves for this award by summarizing their work in a 250- to 500-word report, providing appropriate supporting documents, and filling out the Affiliate Multicultural Program Award submission form no later than June 30 of the year of the award.  

An NCTE Standing Committee on Affiliates (SCOA) representative will chair the judging. Examples of items that could be included with the report might include statistics showing an increased number of members of color, expansion of conference programs, and special activities or events that focus on multicultural aspects of English language arts. Documents such as handouts, programs, and letters may be attached to the report but are not required. 

The winning affiliate(s) will be notified in late summer so that they may have a representative present to receive the award at the NCTE Annual Convention Affiliate Breakfast. The affiliate representative is expected to purchase a breakfast ticket with Convention registration. 

Submissions will be judged on the following criteria (updated in 2022): 

• The affiliate creates and/or maintains multicultural programs and/or outreach efforts that promote equity, antiracist teaching practices, visibility, accessibility, multicultural resources and topics, or other relevant activities. 
• The affiliate creates sustainable multicultural programs and/or outreach efforts that will have a long-lasting impact on affiliate membership. 
• The affiliate participates in NCTE-sponsored professional development and activities that promote multiculturalism (e.g., African American Read-Ins, reading groups focused on ethnic literature, cultural celebrations). 
• The affiliate focuses efforts on increasing the visibility of cultural diversity within their membership and/or leadership.
• The affiliate creates or sustains policies and position statements that align with or improve on NCTE policies and positions regarding multiculturalism, antiracism, equity, censorship, or other relevant topics. 
• The affiliate communicates clearly their solidarity with people of diverse human, cultural, and racial backgrounds to eradicate all forms of racism, bias, and prejudice in spaces of teaching and learning.* 

*This focus aligns directly with NCTE’s position statement on Educators’ Right and Responsibilities to Engage in Antiracist Teaching. 

Scoring Rubric (updated in 2022)

Administration 
The Standing Committee on Affiliates will administer the award. The Committee will appoint a member to handle the judging, the award specifics, and notification to applicants. The committee will also provide annual feedback on ways to improve the program so that it runs smoothly. The NCTE Affiliate Office will handle the initial publicity and notification about the program to affiliates. 

Judging
Members of the judging committee will read each affiliate’s submission and choose up to five winners.