The National English Honor Society’s Classroom Library Grants, named in honor of Emeritus Director David Wendelin, celebrate his unwavering commitment to NEHS and its dedicated Chapter Advisors. These grants are a testament to his passion for fostering a love of literature and language among students.
Designed to enrich English education, the David Wendelin Classroom Library Grants support NEHS schools by providing a wide array of engaging literature across genres—from classic to contemporary works. These grants empower teachers to enhance their classrooms with diverse, inclusive, and high-quality texts, ensuring students have access to enriching literary experiences. This initiative is particularly impactful in communities where access to libraries or books at home may be limited, bridging gaps and inspiring a lifelong appreciation for reading and learning.
Through these grants, NEHS continues to uphold its mission of promoting literacy, supporting educators, and nurturing the next generation of literary enthusiasts.
Awards
NEHS Chapter Advisors are eligible for awards of up to $400.
Eligiblity
- Applicants must be a registered Chapter Advisor of a currently active chapter.
- Applicants may not contend for a grant within two years of a previous application.
Application Requirements
Applicant Chapter Advisors must provide a written narrative of no more than 500 words in PDF format (.pdf) that includes:
- Information about the school at which you teach and the local area, including the percentage of students at your school who are economically disadvantaged
- The level of access your students have to a school library (hours, number of books available that can be checked out per student over what period, and other relevant information regarding access)
- The proximity of the nearest public library and information about its holdings, policies, and hours that might affect student access
- Information about the local culture that may affect the kind of books students have access to in the home or through school and public libraries
- A description of how you imagine your classroom library will support your students in developing literacy skills and a love for reading, writing, and language. Make clear the impact you expect it to have on both learning and growth
- Details of whether your classroom library will be shared with other teachers and members of the wider community, and how that might work
Applicants must submit a list of titles (this can include audiobooks and ebooks) they plan to purchase with the funds, including the cost of each and the intended vendor in PDF format (.pdf). Applicants may reference this list in their narrative if they want to explain the rationale for including certain titles.
The application process will require applicants to provide the name and email address of a school administrator who can confirm their support for the teacher, confirm demographic information about the school and its community, and endorse the applicant’s plans for the use of Classroom Library Grant funds.
Application Process
- All submissions must be made via the NEHS AwardSpring platform during the Fall Awards Cycle.
- Applicants must complete demographic data questions prior to submitting their documentation.
- The Chapter Advisor must upload a PDF file (.pdf) of their 500-word (max.) written narrative, and a PDF file (.pdf) of their wishlist.
- All applicants must include a 150-word (max.) third-person biography and high-resolution portrait photo.
- Applicants must agree that they are willing to provide a written report and photos detailing the impact the grant has had on them, which can be used by NEHS to promote this and other opportunities in future years should they win an award.
Evaluation Process
All applications will be evaluated by at least three members of the NEHS evaluation team.
All applications will be evaluated against a rubric containing (but not limited to) the following categories:
- Clarity of proposal
- Alignment with educational goals
- Evidence of how request will meet local needs
- The diversity, representation, and inclusivity represented in the texts listed for purchase
- Potential impact on student learning
- Budget justification
- Sustainability and long-term benefits
