While educators may waive the entry fees of works they are connected to, the decision to use a fee waiver is ideally made by the teen and their family.
When a teen is able to afford the entry fee—independently, with support from their parents/guardians, or with school/district-level support—they are expected to pay. The Scholastic Awards are administered by a small nonprofit organization and our regional partners—this means any money goes right back into making the Scholastic Awards possible. The entry fees make this opportunity available to your students and all creative teens!
We understand that financial need can be a sensitive topic for educators to navigate with their students. We recommend that educators take one of the following approaches:
1) Advise students to discuss the choice with their families and make their payment or fee waiver selection independently (not as part of group work).
2) Work with their school or district administration to explore opportunities to cover entry fees for some or all entries within your class, school, or district.
Please use your personal and professional knowledge about financial need in your classroom and school community when deciding how to instruct students about payment options.
There are walkthrough videos and informational guides available to support you and your students in completing payment, and the entire Scholastic Awards Portal entry process overall. You can always check the Alliance’s YouTube page, Frequently Asked Questions, and Classroom Resources for the most updated resources, tips, and instructions.
Some policies may vary by region. Visit your Region Page to learn more.