Our initiatives in areas such as standards for reading professionals have resulted in increased professionalization and recognition of literacy educators. On the world stage, projects such as Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking encourage communication and collaboration among professionals across national boundaries. Advocacy efforts related to policy and curriculum development in the United States are presented in government relations reports and are strengthened by the work of our legislative action team . Timely issues of particular and importance are addressed by special commissions and task forces, including the Urban Diversity Initiatives Commission and the Critical Perspectives in Literacy Task Force . Awards and Grants The Association's diverse awards program includes honors for teaching, service to the profession, research, media coverage of reading, and authorship of children's books.
Grants support professional development, graduate studies, and action research.
To encourage literacy efforts outside North America, several awards and grants are specifically designated for international programs and achievement. The Association reaches out to educators in a direct, immediate way through its network of councils and affiliates . These organizations extend our community to more than 350,000 reading professionals in 99 countries. The Association sponsors a full range of conferences and forums , large and small, to provide professional development opportunities to educators across the globe. The centerpiece of our conference program is the weeklong Annual Convention , held each spring in a North American city.