Achievement Awards in Writing Advisory Committee

Function: To advise staff on the nature, policies, and procedures regarding the NCTE Achievement Awards, including the following issues: development of a specific plan for involving more public schools in the awards, especially those with large non-white populations; revision of the structure of the award to mitigate the negative effects of competition on student identity and learning; consideration and development of diversified awards: that recognize development of English Language Learners in writing in their first language as well as English composition; that recognize remarkable improvement or growth in writing; that recognize multi-modal composition (digital or non-digital); and that recognize remarkable risk-taking with the process of writing, instead of the exclusive focus on the final draft; and consideration of revising the Achievement Awards procedure, to eliminate the test-like, single-draft, timed essay as part of the award criteria, since recent developments in high-stakes assessment already privilege those who write quickly.

What major actions or projects have been completed by your group since July 1, 2006?

Committee member Brett Baxter has created a discussion board for the committee to share ideas and information about the charge NCTE gave us last year. 

What projects, initiatives, or studies are “in progress” at this time?

See above.  The discussion board has been little used.  Hopefully after our annual meeting where we can “test drive” the site together, the committee members will be more apt to use it.

Rebecca Dierking, Chair