* NCSS membership is required.
* Full-time social studies teacher or social studies teacher educators currently engaged with K-12 students.
* "Reach for the Stars" projects that represent excellence and innovation in social studies education and have the potential of serving as a model for other teachers.

* Classroom teachers, professionals in other areas of education, students, parents, community groups, and members of other organizations. (Preference will be given to social studies educators).
* Must be or have been engaged in activities that support academic freedom in the face of personal challenge or promote awareness of and support for academic freedom.
* The defense or advocacy of academic freedom must have been related to the teaching of social studies.
* Personal involvement in a particular controversy: the use of controversial issues or materials; defense of the presentation of divergent materials and views; and/or the preparation of materials involving controversy and divergent views.
* Personal involvement in activities that highlight issues surrounding censorship and academic freedom through writings, speeches, or other advocacy.
* The activities of the person considered for the award must be verifiable and must accompany the nomination.

* Anyone may nominate.
* NCSS membership is required.
* Nominees must be social studies educators who are affecting the global understanding of P-12 students.
* Nominees must address several elements of global education as described in the criteria below.

* Anyone may nominate. Self nominations will be accepted.
* NCSS Membership is required.
* Social studies teachers for grades K-6, 5-8, and 7-12 who teach social studies regularly and systematically in elementary school settings, and at least half time in middle/junior high and high school settings.

* Nominees cannot be nominated for the award in more than one category (i.e., junior high/middle school teachers are ineligible for the secondary award).
* Demonstrated exceptional abilities in at least six of the seven categories listed below:
1. Develop or use instructional materials creatively and effectively.
2. Incorporate innovative and verified effective instructional strategies and techniques.
3. Utilize new scholarship from history, the social sciences, or other appropriate fields.
4. Utilize the ten interrelated themes identified in NCSS curriculum standards: culture; time, continuity, and change; people, places, and environment; individual development and identity; individuals, groups, and institutions; power, authority, and governance; production, distribution, and consumption; science, technology, and society; global connections; and civic ideals and practices.
5. Demonstrated ability to foster a spirit of inquiry and the development of skills related to acquiring, organizing, processing, and using information and making decisions related to both domestic and international matters.
6. Demonstrated ability to foster the development of democratic beliefs and values, and the skills needed for citizen participation appropriate to students' grade level in classroom, school, and community settings.
7. Evidence of professional involvement in activities such as workshops, curriculum development, committees, and other association activities, etc.