New York State Reading Association plays an active role in promoting literacy policies as well as informing teachers around the state of governmental practices that affect literacy. The purpose of NYSRA Goal Area of Advocacy is to promote the policies, practices, and procedures that support literacy. NYSRA Advocacy is accomplished through:
- Monitoring actions advocated by the Board of Regents, the State Education Department, the NYS Legislature, and the federal government
- Monitoring actions of IRA's advocacy initiatives
- Recommending legislative priorities and action on those issues that directly impact literacy
- Advocating for the literacy needs of students in high needs schools
- Providing testimony and policy statements that support NYSRA's advocacy goals
- Providing advocacy support and training for members
The Advocacy Goal Area is open to all members to assist in the advocacy of policy, practices and procedures that promote literacy and quality reading instruction. Timely governmental relations reports and updates are sent from NYSRA's Goal Area Coordinator, as well as from IRA's Washington office.
The following links are informational documents, recent policy statements, and lobby efforts by the organization.
NYSRA Advocacy Alerts - (March 2007)
Striving Readers - U.S. Senate
IRA Statement on Key Legislative Issues (2007).
NYSRA Statements:
New Roles in Response to Intervention (IRA Policy Paper) (November 2006)
NYSRA Endorsement of New Century Libraries (June 20, 2003)
NYSRA Response to Regents Policy Statement on Middle-Level Education (May 5, 2003)
NYSRA Statement to the 2000 Regents legislative Conference (September 13, 2000)
NYSRA Media Advisory on IRA Studies: (April 13, 2000)
NYSRA's statement to the Legislature on the 2000-2001 state budget, (February 11, 2000)
NYSRA Statement on Part 80 Regulation Changes (January 12, 2000)
NYSRA Statement on ELA Issues, (December 15, 1999)
NYSRA Statement on Part 52 Regulations relating to teacher certification and the issue of "Dyslexia" (September 13, 1999)
NYSRA Statement on Part 100 regulations relating to new standards, professional development, (May 25, 1999).
The NYSRA Statement to the National Reading Panel was written and presented by Paula Costello on behalf of the New York State Reading Association.
