October-December 2026

ELA Networking Dates

Click the links below to register for the sessions:

• November 18, 2026 (opens in new window)
• January 6, 2027 (opens in new window)
• March 31, 2027 (opens in new window)

TDA Dates

Click the links below to register for the sessions:

• November 4, 2026 (opens in new window)
• January 14, 2027 (opens in new window)
• March 3, 2027 (opens in new window)

Join thousands of teachers, leaders, researchers, authors, and illustrators at the 2026 NCTE Annual Convention, the premier annual event for English language arts and literacy educators. The four-day Convention offers hundreds of professional development sessions, a packed Exhibit Hall where you can preview upcoming books and teaching materials, and the chance to network with educators from all over the country.

Join us in Philadelphia this November to soak up the nerd vibes, foster connections, and hone teaching techniques to take home to the classroom.

Philadelphia, PA

November 19, 2026–November 22, 2026

Click here (opens in new window) to register

Registration for the SAS Institute 2026 Design. Lead. Flourish. opened in September. The 2026 SAS Institute brings Pennsylvania’s educational leaders together for four days of purposeful learning designed to strengthen the systems and relationships that help people and organizations flourish.

To learn all about the SAS institute at SAS Institute 2026 (opens in new window)

To draw attention to the remarkable variety of writing Americans engage in and to help make writers from all walks of life aware of their craft, the National Council of Teachers of English established October 20 as the National Day on Writing.

It’s important for everyone to share their knowledge about writing, organize participating groups in our schools and communities, and transform the public’s understanding of writing and the role it plays in society today.

Visit NCTE's page for more information and ideas. (opens in new window)

Resources for teaching English language arts using New York Times content (opens in new window).

National Book Month champions the importance of reading, writing, and literature every October. This month-long observance encourages everyone to pick up a book, explore new genres, and support authors. Dive into a new story, visit your local library, or join a book club to celebrate.

Overview & History

• Founded: Established in 2003 by the National Book Foundation (opens in new window) to emphasize the societal importance of literacy and storytelling.
• Timing: October was chosen because it immediately precedes the announcement of the prestigious National Book Awards finalists and ceremony.
• Purpose: It highlights the value of books, celebrates authors, and encourages people of all ages to unplug and engage with literature.

Ways to Celebrate

• Start a new book: Finally open that title sitting at the bottom of your "to-be-read" pile.
• Support local creators: Visit an independent bookstore or your local public library.
• Share stories: Participate in or host a local book club, read-a-thon, or family reading night.
• Write a review: Post a review online or recommend a favorite book to a friend.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) transforms November into a literary sprint, challenging participants to write a 50,000-word novel in just 30 days. This global event fosters creativity and discipline, encouraging writers to conquer their inner critic and get their story on paper. Join the movement, connect with fellow wordsmiths, and finally write that book!

Join the NCTE for a discussion with position statement authors Rachel Lloyd and Renee Hobbs as they explore the statement’s four strands: Interpreting, Composing, Evaluating, and Analyzing, and how they connect to the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills educators already teach.

Tuesday, October 6 | 4:00–5:00 p.m. ET

To register, click here (opens in new window)

It is an exciting time in Pennsylvania and several pieces of legislation have moved Structured Literacy to the forefront. In order to stay on top of legislative requirements, FAQs, and resources for school entities, bookmark and visit often PDE’s Structured Literacy page. (opens in new window)

2026-2027 Classroom Diagnostic Tools

Test Setup Window begins for Math, Reading, and Writing on August 17, 2026

Test Setup Window begins for Science on September 28, 2026

Testing Window for Math, Reading, Writing – August 24, 2026 - June 11, 2027

Testing Window for Science – October 14, 2026 - June 11, 2027

2026-2027 Firefly

Test Setup Window begins on September 21, 2026

Testing Window Opens – October 5, 2026

Testing Window Closes for Grades 3-8 ELA, Math, and Science – April 23, 2027

Testing Window Closes for Algebra I, Biology, and Literature – May 14, 2027

Grades 3-8 Seasons

Fall: October 5-November 29, 2026

Winter: November 30, 2026-February 28, 2027

Spring: March 1-April 23, 2027

Reporting

Reports, except Group Progress, available for ELA, Literature, Math, and Algebra – October 5, 2026 Reports, except Group Progress and Instructional Supports, for Science and Biology – November 12, 2017

Group Progress Reports – December 1, 2026 Instructional Supports for Science and Biology – Tentatively February 1, 2027

• Banned Books Week Event: Join WPCTE for a discussion about intellectual freedom on Wednesday, October 7 from 7-8pm on Google Meet. Feel free to share your thoughts about book banning and censorship or share banned books that you believe have value for all readers. You may also talk about your experiences with dealing with censorship.

• The session will open with a brief presentation about banned books, a list of the most recently banned books, and current news about censorship. You may participate in the discussion or just attend to learn more about book banning. Thank you to Tim Oldakowski for planning this virtual event! Complete this form to RSVP! (opens in new window)

The 2026 Flash Fiction Contest (opens in new window) is open! The deadline is 10/30/2026.

• Join us at the University of Pittsburgh in partnership with the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project (WPWP) on Thursday, March 11, 2027 for this year’s conference! More exciting details coming soon!

• The WPCTE Writing Group is a way to find time to come together, write, and share our ideas as well as motivate each other to continue writing.

• WPCTE is proposing two online sessions this fall where we can meet and introduce ourselves, then turn our cameras and microphones off, write for one hour, and then hold a short discussion about what we are writing. You are welcome to participate as much as you would like to. Both sessions will take place over Google Meet and will last about 75 minutes.

• Complete this form to indicate your interest and availability. (opens in new window)

PDE is highlighting several quick, classroom ready news literacy resources from the News Literacy Project. The nice thing about these is that they do not require an entire class period or hours of preparation. They can easily become a bell ringer, warm up, discussion starter, or short activity.

A few resources worth checking out:

The Sift
A weekly newsletter that breaks down current news literacy topics and provides ready to use activity ideas, discussion prompts, and slide decks.

Daily Do Now
Five to ten minute bell ringer activities designed to get students thinking critically about the information they encounter. New slides are posted each Friday for the following week.

RumorGuard
Weekly classroom ready resources that use current examples of misinformation to walk students through the fact checking process.

Two Truths and AI
A short video series that challenges students to identify AI generated content and think critically about what they see and hear online.

These could be especially useful for ELA, social studies, library/media, technology, and any classroom in which students are working with research, evidence, current events, or digital information.

One of the things I love about these resources is that news literacy does not have to be another thing added to your plate. A five minute conversation at the beginning of class can give students an opportunity to practice evaluating sources, recognizing misinformation, asking questions, and thinking critically about the information they encounter every day.

Check out the PDE resource and explore the links here. (opens in new window)