The National Writing Project is a highly successful, cost-effective program to improve the teaching of writing in the nation's schools. However, the current ESEA bill does not include the reauthorization of the National Writing Project. Despite Washington's present focus on the importance of education, a lack of reading and writing skills continue to hinder individual and corporate success in the United States today. About half of all private 4-year institutions offered remedial writing courses.
Writing is a focal point of every state and school district's education standards.
Yet the National Writing Project is the only national program that seeks to improve the teaching of writing through professional development for teachers, kindergarten through college. The project serves over 100,000 teachers annually through its network of 167 sites in 49 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. Sites operate from university campuses and collaborate with surrounding schools and districts. Successful writing teachers attend invitational summer institutes at their local writing project sites to share best practices, conduct research and develop their own writing skills. These same teachers then share what they have learned with other teachers, providing professional development workshops in their own schools and communities.