At its meeting on February 14–16, the NCTM Board of Directors approved a motion to change the date of the NCTM annual meeting from April to late June or July, with the understanding that the year of implementation is uncertain because of existing contractual obligations. A June or July meeting would permit more teachers to attend the annual meeting, which now conflicts with mandatory testing scheduled in the spring in many states.

NCTM annual meeting attendance has declined significantly in recent years, whereas participation at the fall regional conferences continues to increase. Although annual meeting attendees continue to comment favorably on the meeting, noting the high quality of the program, they also cite the increasing demands to prepare for state testing at that time of year. Often, the timing of the annual meeting has conflicted with state testing in the host region, and many teachers have not been permitted to attend. Because NCTM’s mission is to support teachers by offering professional development, removing the barrier of timing for many who would like to attend the annual meeting became imperative.

In fall 2012, NCTM conducted a comprehensive market research study to evaluate all aspects of the annual meeting, including the time of year it is traditionally held. The survey went to a representative sample of recent and past attendees, as well as individuals who have never attended an NCTM annual meeting. This sample of members and nonmembers included classroom teachers, administrators, researchers, students, and others. The survey confirmed that the current timing was not ideal for most regular and potential attendees and that a move to the summer could allow greater participation.

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Thank you,

Linda M. Gojak

NCTM President