Throughout its 100 years of leadership in literacy education, NCTE has supported diverse perspectives and languages. NCTE and its members have spoken out against the diversity issues in Arizona, including the removal of seven books from the Mexican American Studies Program in the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD). Kent Williamson, NCTE executive director, notes, “It’s unacceptable for state and local officials to deny students a rich and diverse curriculum presented under the guidance of qualified teachers.”
Through its Anti-Censorship Center, NCTE works on dozens of book challenges a year, continuing its century of support for the students’ right to read and for teachers’ expertise in choosing the materials that best serve the curriculum and their students.