NEWARK, Del., Feb. 17, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The International Reading Association – the world's foremost expert on literacy – today expressed support for President Obama's budget submission for the upcoming fiscal year, which calls for significant upgrades to teacher education programs, recruitment efforts and mentorships and other professional development activities. Through the proposed budget, the president has made clear that investments in education are critical to the long-term success of the United States.
The president's proposed budget not only calls for much needed investments in education, it puts before the American people an important idea: Teachers make a difference. Over the past 20 years, education reform initiatives have been crafted to evaluate and dismiss teachers and determine their lesson plans. But little has been done to actually improve instruction. The president's proposal includes an important set of recommendations that would provide the funds necessary to provide teachers with the type of education and development that has the potential to meaningfully improve teaching and learning in our nation's classrooms.
"The International Reading Association knows that good teachers are the result of a great education, years of experience and ongoing support to assist in their professional growth and continued improvement," said Richard M. Long, director of government relations at the International Reading Association. "We applaud President Obama for calling for investments that will help our teachers deliver the effective instruction our students need, and we urge Congress to carefully consider his proposal and work collaboratively to expand its depth and reach."
To learn more about the International Reading Association's positions on policy affecting literacy and education, please visit http://reading.org/General/Legislative.aspx.
About the International Reading Association
The International Reading Association is the world's foremost expert on literacy. A non-profit global network dedicated to advancing the quality of literacy instruction and research worldwide, the International Reading Association supports reading teachers and other literacy professionals by providing professional development resources, advocating for policy and practices that benefit all teachers and students, and conducting research that promotes informed decision-making about literacy practice in the classroom. With more than 65,000 members worldwide, the Association is one of the world's largest educational membership organizations. The International Reading Association's many publications and peer-reviewed journals, including Reading Research Quarterly, provide coverage of research-based practices for the classroom and ideas and reflections on literacy from around the world. Additional information is available at www.reading.org.