The Council Chronicle

NCTE is collaborating with researchers at the Notre Dame Center for Literacy Education (CLE) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on a new project to amplify the voices and expertise of high school English teachers to illuminate how they make pedagogical decisions about texts and literacy instruction in their classrooms. NCTE members who teach in grades 9-12 are invited to apply now to participate in the research study and teacher community.

NCTE released the 2026 African American Read-In (AARI) Report Card, compiling stories and details from hundreds of events engaging more than 112,000 students, educators, and community members in African American literature.

NCTE-led project enters new phase as teacher cohorts apply, refine guidance for helping students think critically with AI FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), with support from a national grant from Google.org, has published a working framework for English language arts educators seeking to understand the appropriate role of AI in the discipline—a pressing issue facing every school and student.

The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) joined major publishers and national literary and library advocacy groups in urging US representatives to protect students’ freedom to read by opposing a piece of legislation that would compel nationwide book censorship. Among the groups are Penguin Random House, the National Coalition Against Censorship, Macmillan Publishers, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and the American Library Association.

April is National Poetry Month, and while we know many of our members celebrate poetry all year long, now is the perfect time to resurface some of our classroom activities, lesson plans, and inspiration for reading and writing poetry—whether with your students or for your personal enjoyment and practice. Access the resources below, and, if you’re an NCTE member, enjoy 30% off our poetry books through April.

Registration opens for the year’s largest gathering of ELA educators, coinciding with the country’s 250th birthday celebration in Philadelphia FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) will welcome actor, director, author, and lifelong literacy advocate LeVar Burton to the main stage of the 2026 NCTE Annual Convention, happening November 19–22 in Philadelphia. Registration is now open for #NCTE26, whose theme—“Imagine. Innovate.

NCTE books, authors take center stage at ninth annual writers retreat in Waco, Texas FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) has partnered with the Tyrolia Literacy Institute to gather in community with literacy educators this summer as they advance their writing craft and enhance their teaching practices.

Dr. Ernest Morrell, a legendary scholar in our field and multifaceted leader who helped pave the way for critical English education as a practice, passed away surrounded by family members on February 4. He was a member of NCTE for more than three decades, served as NCTE President in 2014, and directed the NCTE James R. Squire Office on Policy Research since 2020. His reputation as a scholar, as a mentor, and as a respected colleague is unparalleled.

Text and Tech: Reading Together brings educators practical strategies for integrating print and digital literacy CLEVELAND — The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and Sora, the student reading app, are partnering to launch a new professional learning webinar series designed to help educators navigate the evolving landscape of literacy instruction. Text and Tech: Reading Together is an interactive, five-part virtual book club running February through June 2026.

Each February since 1990, NCTE’s National African American Read-In (AARI) has brought together students, teachers, families, and communities from all corners of the US to read books and celebrate literacy during Black History Month. More than six million people have participated in the AARI since it was established by the Black Caucus of NCTE; many schools and organizations have been participating for decades.