Did you know that reading just 20 minutes per day will make you end up reading 1.8 million words a year? Read Across America Day, also known as Dr. Seuss Day, is celebrated on March 2nd and encourages more and more people to get excited about reading each year.

The National Education Association (NEA) has sponsored national Read Across America Day since 1998. The association has around 3 million members working at every level of education, varying from preschool to university graduate programs. It is currently the nation’s largest professional employee organization, committed to advancing public education and literacy.

Group organizers and teachers of the NEA are required to take a pledge that will allow their plans to be posted on the NEA’s website. Matthew Powell, a custodian supervisor from the Kentucky Education Association, states, “I want to remind all of us of the influence and power we have in the lives of our students, in our schools, and our communities. That power is available to each and every one of us, every day.”

Drawing more attention to creating a new generation of readers, several celebrities have taken part in this as well. Since 1998, actors, sports stars, and other famous figures have sat down and read with children to bring the spotlight to this cause. Read Across America also advocates for diversity in books and readers, which reflect different cultures and experiences. For instance, NEA awarded $50,000 in Read Across America Grants to 10 state affiliates just this year. Joslyn DeLancey stated, “We went into a district particularly struggling with funds. To be able to give those kids books for their library and to have their own personal book that they can take home was amazing. We were so excited to give them that.” DeLancey is the Connecticut Education Association (CEA) Vice President, President of the Connecticut Education Foundation, and directed the majority of the Read Across America organization in Connecticut. 

More and more programs are being established and spreading the importance of Read Across America Day. Mentioned earlier, the Connecticut Education Foundation (CEA) has integrated sports into reading in several ways. The foundation collaborated with Scott Burrell, Morgan Tuck, and Nina Williams to share their messages and love for literacy. These small acts help expand their own careers, but also help bring more awareness towards the importance of this holiday and education. 

This year’s Read Across America Day has had a special focus on promoting diverse books and highlighting the importance of equity and inclusion in education. Children’s literature has had a growing awareness surrounding more diverse representation in previous years. In addressing these topics, the NEA has partnered with organizations such as We Need Diverse Books, Teaching Tolerance, and the National Council of Teachers of English to provide resources and guidance for educators and families to choose books that reflect the diversity of our society. NEA President Becky Pringle stated, “By promoting diverse and inclusive books, we can open up new worlds of possibilities for all children, and help them see themselves and others in a positive light.” 

Read Across America Day highlights the enduring appeal and value of reading, as well as the ongoing efforts to make reading more inclusive and equitable for everyone. As Maya Angelou once said, “Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.”

Citations

“National Education Association | NEA.” National Education Association | NEA, https://www.nea.org/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2023.