Baseball player Cal Ripken served as the national spokesperson, the voice of James Earl Jones resonated on the airwaves in PSA's touting the event and here in North Carolina, the NCAE donated thousands of books to North Carolina school kids. 1998 was Read Across America's inaugural year, and the Association plans to promote the importance of reading each year with this observance. NCAE Works for Safe Schools for Everyone NCAE is interested in making sure all public schools are safe places to work and learn. The workshops offer teachers and others an opportunity to learn how to diffuse disruptive and assaultive students when in instructional settings and in other circumstances as well.
Teachers frequently encounter students lacking the basic necessities.
The Children's Fund, a major component of the Foundation fills that need. The Children's Fund, upon request, will provide financial assistance for school field trips, clothing, eyeglasses, test fees, and many items for which teachers spend their own money to help students year after year. The goal of the Children's Fund is to ensure that personal needs not be allowed to interfere with a student's ability to learn. NCAE is a member of the North Carolina Covenant for Children, a coalition of organizations established to keep child-related issues in the forefront of the North Carolina Legislature, to monitor child safety issues and child care regulations, and to make sure North Carolina has the most nurturing and protective environment possible for young people. The Association actively supports the Covenant's programs which tackle health-related issues such as teen smoking, child immunizations, and safety issues such as teen driving.