Exemplary Reading Program Award
Description of the Award
- The Exemplary Reading Program Award is sponsored by the International Reading Association to recognize outstanding reading and language arts programs at all grade levels (elementary, middle, and high school). Its purpose is to call the public's attention to outstanding programs in schools throughout North America. Each participating state and province can choose one winnng school.
Objectives
The program has five objectives:
- to improve literacy in our society,
- to recognize school staffs who demonstrate excellence in reading and literacy programs,
- to encourage the development and refinement of exemplary reading/language arts programs,
- to report to the public noteworthy efforts to improve reading/language arts, and
- to disseminate specific information about high quality programs so that other professionals can use it to improve their own instructional efforts.
Criteria for Participating
- All public, private, and parochial elementary and secondary schools are eligible for the award if the school has at least one IRA member.
- The school must apply with its entire reading program, not just one segment (i.e., Title 1, resource room, library/media, teacher, one grade, and the like).
- The application form must be fully completed, and signed by the chief school officer, e.g., superintendent.
- The winning program should serve as a model for other schools and teachers.
- A school receiving the award cannot apply again within a period of three years.
Judging of Applications
Each state/province participating in the program will have an Exemplary Reading Program Award Committee. Not all states/provinces elect to participate in the program. Please be sure that your state/province has elected to participate prior to submitting your application to IRA Headquarters. All applications received at IRA Headquarters will be forwarded to the appropriate state/provincial Exemplary Reading Program Award Committee chairperson. The Committee will then review each application, applying the criteria listed in these guidelines and using a standardized scoring procedure. Schools receiving a set point value will be visited by representatives of the state/provincial Exemplary Reading Program Award Committee.
The school having the highest rating in each state/province will be the Exemplary Reading Program Award winner for that state/province. The name and application will be sent to IRA Headquarters by the chairperson of each state/provincial Exemplary Reading Program Award Committee. IRA Headquarters will notify each winning school of the honor and invite representatives for each award winning school to attend the IRA annual convention, where the awards will be presented.
TIMELINE
| November 15 |
Applications must be postmarked. Send a copy of application to Awards and Honors Committee! |
| November 22 |
Applications must arrve at IRA Headquarters. Faxed entries will not be accepted. |
| February 1 |
Validated visits by state/provincial Exemplary Reading Program Award Committee members will be completed. State nominee will be honored at annual convention. |
| February 10 |
State/provincial Exemplary Reading Program Award Committee chairpersons will notify IRA Headquarters of winners. |
| March 1 |
IRA Headquarters will notify recipients of the award. |
How to Participate
To participate in the program, complete the application form. Then prepare a description of your program, applying specifically the ten guidelines listed below. The desciption may be in any order as long as all criteria are addressed. Please limit the description to five pages. As part of the description, please list the names and professional assignments of all those who were involved in completing the application.
NOTE: Additional materials - such as books, journals, and newspapers - will not be considered as part of the application. However, you may want to display these items in your school if the state/provincial Exemplary Reading Program Award committee chooses to make a site visit.
10 Guidelines to Be FoIlowed
| Your application should include evidence that: |
- Student learning is enhanced by the reading program.
- Students like to read.
- Students are achieving success in reading.
- Administrators (building and/or district) are involved in the reading program.
- Teachers, parents, and community leaders are involved in the reading program.
- The school and/or district offers support services to the program.
- Listening, speaking, and writing are being integrated into the reading program.
- Reading activities occur outside of school.
- Comprehension strategies are taught in the reading program and applied in other content areas.
- The reading program is consistent with sound theory and, where applicable, appropriate research.
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Send your application form and program description to:
Exemplary Reading Program Award
International Reading Association
800 Barksdale Road, PO Box 8139
Newark, DE 19714-8139, USA
Applications must be postmarked by November 15 and arrive at IRA Headquarters by November 22. Faxed applications will not be accepted.
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