The International Reading Association (IRA), a professional membership organization, promotes high levels of literacy for all by

• improving the quality of reading instruction
• disseminating research and information about reading, and
• encouraging a lifetime reading habit.

IRA’s more than 70,000 members include classroom teachers, reading specialists, consultants, administrators, supervisors, university faculty, researchers, psychologists, librarians, media specialists, and parents.

IRA affiliates with reading organizations in 99 countries, extending our network to more than 300,000 people worldwide.

We offer a number of resources, including fact sheets and public service announcement materials.

If you are looking for experts on reading and reading issues, please contact IRA’s Public Information Office:

• Phone: +302-731-1600, ext. 217
• E-mail: pubinfo@reading.org
• Fax: +302-731-1057

Let IRA be your source for the latest information about reading, reading instruction, reading research, and activities of the reading community. You’ll find a wealth of information available on this website:

• Reading Today Online is IRA's up-to-the-minute online magazine featuring IRA and literacy news items from around the world.
• The Resources by Topic section provides links to published research and other IRA materials on important topics, including adolescent literacy, beginning readers, language and cultural diversity, reading assessment, reading comprehension, Common Core, struggling readers and writers, urban education initiatives, and more.
• Position statements give research-based positions on critical literacy issues influence national, state/provincial, and local education policies directed at reading and reading instruction, reading resources, teacher preparation, professional development, classroom leadership, and student performance and outcomes.

Read the latest IRA press releases:

• International Reading Association Responds To NAEP Reading Results
• PISA 2009 reveals gender disparities, decline in reading engagement among teens
• IRA responds to Common Core Standards
• IRA Calls for Three-Part Initiative to Raise Literacy Achievement Through Common Core State Standards

IRA offers facts sheets about the Association, important issues in literacy, and the popular Choices booklist program

 

• IRA fact sheet (short description)
• Striving Readers Fact Sheet
• Children’s Choices Fact Sheet
• Teachers’ Choices Fact Sheet
• Young Adults’ Choices Fact Sheet

Download the latest IRA public service announcements and related materials.

“Kids who read better do better in school and life”

IRA is supporting a public service campaign to help parents and others gain insight into reading instruction and the impact of public policy on the classroom. As a first step in this process, radio stations across America recently received a 30-second public service announcement about effective reading programs.

• Download audio file of PSA
• Download script of PSA
• Bookmark: Kids who read better do better in school and life; color
• Bookmark: Kids who read better do better in school and life; black and white