Overview

NCTE is devoted to improving the teaching and learning of English and the English language arts at all levels of education.  Since 1911, NCTE has provided a forum for the profession , an array of opportunities for teachers to continue their professional growth throughout their careers, and a framework for cooperation to deal with issues that affect the teaching of English. 

NCTE has over 60,000 members and subscribers in the United States and other countries.  Individual members are teachers and supervisors of English programs in elementary, middle, and secondary schools, faculty in college and university English departments, teacher educators, local and state agency English specialists, and professionals in related fields. 

NCTE sponsors 120 regional, state, provincial, local, and student affiliates throughout the United states, in five Canadian provinces, and in the Philippines.

Structure 

NCTE offers its members opportunities to grow professionally by interacting with colleagues in all facets of English teaching.  Individuals belong to any of four broad Sections of membership–Elementary, Middle, Secondary, or College.  They may also join other groups centered on various teaching specialties within English, each with its own journal, meetings, and projects.  

Major interest groups, called Conferences, serve teachers of college writing and rhetoric; teacher educators in higher education and inservice posts; teachers with an interest in whole language; and English department chairs, K-12 supervisors, and other English instruction leaders.  Assemblies are informal special interest groups, ranging in focus from computers in English to research, which meet at NCTE conventions.  

Commissions monitor and report on trends and issues in the teaching of language, composition, literature, reading, media, and the curriculum.  Nearly 50 committees and task forces carry out projects on issues and topics in the teaching of English, among them testing and evaluation, censorship, instructional technology, response to literature, teacher preparation and certification, and English in urban schools. 

Click Here for Leadership Structure Chart (PDF Format)

Strategic Governance

In November 2003, the NCTE Executive Committee adopted a new model of policy-oriented style of governance for the Council. They have studied the meaning and ramifications of the following issues for the organization as a whole. You may click on the focal issues below to link to positions established and motions passed.

Teacher Quality
Adolescent Literacy
Testing and Assessment
Writing
Multimodal Literacies and Technology
Research and Teaching
English Language Learners
Professional Development