Partnerships

The Institute was created to help the nation better meet some of its current and emerging literacy challenges. The Institute collaborates across organizations, constituencies and disciplines to effect systemic change by working in partnership at the federal level. Its work is informed by research, expert advice and stakeholder input.

Partnership Highlights

In March 2009, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the Institute agreed to organize and conduct an invitational scientific workshop on research on writing development and instruction.

Although writing is an essential basic skill in the 21st century workplace, far less effort has been directed toward answering fundamental questions about the acquisition and development of writing skills than questions concerning other domains such as reading. Recognizing the potential benefits that a stronger research focus on writing ultimately could have on classroom teaching, the NICHD and the Institute convened a two-day workshop of approximately 15 nationally recognized writing and reading researchers. The workshop provided a forum to identify what is known about writing across the lifespan; topics that remain understudied; barriers that might impede future research; and ways writing can be connected to other basic skills and content areas. The proceedings will be made available to the broad education research community and other stakeholders through a scientific summary or edited volume to encourage further conversation.

Last updated: Monday, 20-Jul-2009 07:53:33 EDT