International Literacy Association

The International Literacy Association (ILA) is a global advocacy and professional membership organization focused on improving literacy instruction, advancing research, and encouraging reading. Established in 1956 as the International Reading Association, it developed from a professional community concerned with reading education into an international network serving educators, researchers, specialists, and other literacy professionals. The organization later adopted the name International Literacy Association to reflect a broader understanding of literacy beyond reading alone. ILA is headquartered in Newark, Delaware, in the United States, and has reported a network of more than 300,000 literacy educators, researchers, and experts in 128 countries. Its work combines professional learning, research dissemination, standards development, awards, grants, publications, special-interest communities, and public advocacy. The association positions evidence and rigorous research as central to effective literacy leadership and classroom practice. A major part of ILA’s professional infrastructure is its publication program. The organization publishes three peer-reviewed journals: The Reading Teacher, which serves professionals working with children through approximately age twelve; the Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, which addresses literacy education for older learners; and Reading Research Quarterly, which publishes research contributions in literacy. ILA also publishes Literacy Today, an online quarterly membership magazine formerly known as Reading Today. Its earlier e-journal Reading Online was retired in 2005, while the organization’s book-publishing program formally ended on June 30, 2018. ILA also develops professional standards. Its Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals, 2017 Edition provides a research-based framework for the preparation and certification of literacy professionals. Through special-interest groups, members can engage around subjects including children’s literature, reading disabilities, college literacy, teacher education, district literacy leadership, gifted and creative learners, mastery learning, and literacy’s social responsibilities. The association sponsors Alpha Upsilon Alpha, an honor society connected with literacy scholarship and professional achievement. Awards and grants are another significant part of ILA’s activities. Programs recognize teachers, researchers, authors, librarians, teacher educators, literacy programs, and other contributors to literacy development. The William S. Gray Citation of Merit is described as the association’s highest individual honor and recognizes substantial contributions across areas such as research, theory, practice, and policy. Research support includes the Elva Knight Research Grant, while dissertation and teacher-educator awards recognize emerging scholarship and excellence in professional preparation. ILA also administers children’s and young adult book awards intended to identify promising early-career authors across fiction and nonfiction categories. The association has maintained an international institutional role through its relationship with UNESCO. It was recognized by UNESCO in 1978 and received consultative status in 1996. ILA’s current work therefore sits at the intersection of professional association services, literacy advocacy, educational research, standards, publishing, and international cooperation. Its present identity is that of a membership-based literacy organization rather than a commercial consumer brand.

The International Literacy Association was established in 1956 as the International Reading Association. It was created as a professional organization devoted to improving reading instruction, supporting research on reading, and promoting reading habits. Over time, the association expanded from a primarily reading-centered identity into a broader literacy organization serving professionals involved in instruction, research, leadership, policy, publishing, and educational support. The organization developed an international membership network of literacy educators, researchers, and experts. Its reported reach extends across 128 countries and includes more than 300,000 members or affiliated professionals. ILA is headquartered in Newark, Delaware, United States, while its mission and membership are international. The association’s work has included professional exchange, research dissemination, standards development, awards, grants, publications, and advocacy for effective literacy education. Publishing has been a central part of ILA’s history. The association’s current journal portfolio includes The Reading Teacher, serving professionals working with children through age twelve; the Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, focused on older learners; and Reading Research Quarterly, dedicated to literacy research. ILA also publishes Literacy Today, a membership magazine that developed from Reading Today. Reading Today was published as a bimonthly membership newspaper from 1983 to 2011. Beginning with the August/September 2011 issue, it was divided into a bimonthly print magazine and an interactive digital publication, and it later became an online-only quarterly magazine. Reading Online, an ILA-sponsored electronic journal, was retired in 2005. The association’s publishing strategy changed in the late 2010s. ILA ended its book-publishing program on June 30, 2018, but retained its peer-reviewed journals and membership communications. This change concentrated the organization’s publishing role on scholarly periodicals, professional information, and member-oriented content rather than a broader book list. ILA has also sought to formalize professional quality through research-based standards. Its Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals, 2017 Edition established a framework for preparing and certifying literacy professionals. The standards reflect the association’s emphasis on research as the basis for literacy leadership and professional practice. Member participation is organized partly through special-interest groups. These groups cover areas such as affect in reading education, children’s literature, college literacy and learning, district literacy leadership, literacy and social responsibility, mastery learning, teacher education, literacy professors, reading disabilities, and gifted and creative learners. ILA additionally sponsors Alpha Upsilon Alpha, an honor society associated with literacy achievement and scholarship. Recognition and research support form another enduring part of the organization’s institutional role. ILA awards honors to educators, authors, researchers, librarians, programs, teacher educators, and other contributors. Its William S. Gray Citation of Merit is reserved for members who have made outstanding contributions across multiple dimensions of literacy development and is identified as the association’s highest individual honor. Grants and competitions include the Elva Knight Research Grant, the Timothy and Cynthia Shanahan Outstanding Dissertation Award, and the Jerry Johns Outstanding Teacher Educator in Reading Award. The organization has also operated children’s and young adult book awards recognizing promising early-career authors in primary, intermediate, and young-adult fiction and nonfiction. ILA’s international status is reinforced by its relationship with UNESCO. It was recognized by UNESCO in 1978 and was reclassified as holding consultative status in 1996. The association remains an active international professional organization, with its present identity centered on literacy advocacy, evidence-based education, professional communities, standards, research communication, and recognition of achievement.

• 2018

  Book publishing program ends

  [1]International Literacy Associationen.wikipedia.org

  ILA officially concluded its book-publishing program on June 30, 2018.

• 2017

  ILA Standards published

  [1]International Literacy Associationen.wikipedia.org

  ILA developed the Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals, 2017 Edition as a research-based framework for professional preparation and certification.

• 2011

  Reading Today changes format

  [1]International Literacy Associationen.wikipedia.org

  From the August/September 2011 issue, Reading Today was divided into print and interactive digital components before later becoming Literacy Today.

• 2005

  Reading Online retired

  [1]International Literacy Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The organization’s sponsored electronic journal Reading Online was discontinued.

• 1996

  UNESCO consultative status

  [1]International Literacy Associationen.wikipedia.org

  ILA was reclassified as having consultative status with UNESCO.

• 1983

  Reading Today begins publication

  [1]International Literacy Associationen.wikipedia.org

  ILA launched Reading Today as a bimonthly membership newspaper, later evolving it into Literacy Today.

• 1978

  UNESCO recognition

  [1]International Literacy Associationen.wikipedia.org

  ILA was recognized by UNESCO, establishing an important international institutional affiliation.

• 1975

  Children’s literature award program begins

  [1]International Literacy Associationen.wikipedia.org

  ILA began offering a children’s literature award program that later developed into its annual Children’s and Young Adult’s Book Awards.

• 1956

  Organization established as the International Reading Association

  [1]International Literacy Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association was founded to improve reading instruction, facilitate reading research, and encourage reading worldwide.

A global, research-oriented professional association for literacy educators, researchers, and advocates, emphasizing evidence-based instruction, professional standards, knowledge exchange, and recognition of achievement.

• Peer-reviewed academic journal

  The Reading Teacher

  A peer-reviewed journal serving literacy professionals who work with children through approximately age twelve. It is part of ILA’s continuing scholarly publication portfolio and supports the exchange of research, instructional ideas, and professional knowledge relevant to elementary literacy education.

• Peer-reviewed academic journal

  Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy

  A peer-reviewed publication focused on literacy education for adolescent and adult learners. The journal extends ILA’s scope beyond early reading and addresses professional concerns involving older students and adult literacy contexts.

• Literacy research journal

  Reading Research Quarterly

  ILA’s research-focused peer-reviewed journal, publishing contributions to literacy scholarship. It represents the association’s emphasis on research as a foundation for literacy practice, leadership, and policy.

• Membership magazine

  Literacy Today

  ILA’s online quarterly membership magazine. It evolved from Reading Today, which began as a bimonthly newspaper in 1983 and later incorporated print and interactive digital formats before becoming an online-only publication.

• Professional standards · 2017

  ILA Standards

  The Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals, 2017 Edition provides a research-based framework for preparing and certifying literacy professionals. The standards express ILA’s position that strong literacy leadership should be grounded in rigorous evidence.

• Literary awards · 1975

  Children’s and Young Adult’s Book Awards

  An annual award program recognizing promising early-career authors of English-language children’s and young adult books. Awards cover primary, intermediate, and young-adult fiction and nonfiction, with winners and honor recipients selected by a committee of educators and literacy specialists.

• Research grant

  Elva Knight Research Grant

  An annual grant program supporting ILA members conducting research related to literacy or literacy teaching. The program is intended to help researchers investigate questions relevant to reading and literacy education.

• Professional honor

  William S. Gray Citation of Merit

  ILA’s highest individual honor, reserved for members whose contributions span multiple dimensions of literacy development, including research, theory, practice, and policy.

• 2018

  End of the book-publishing programStrategy

  Background

  ILA maintained a publishing presence through journals and member communications while also operating a book-publishing program.

  Action taken

  The association formally ended its book-publishing program on June 30, 2018.

  Aftermath

  ILA continued publishing The Reading Teacher, Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, Reading Research Quarterly, and Literacy Today.

  Source

1. 1International Literacy Associationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2International Literacy Association official websitereading.org