MISSION
The mission of the Massachusetts Reading Association is to promote literacy for all learners through professional development, research, publications, and advocacy.
ABOUT
The Massachusetts Reading Association is a professional non-profit organization of individuals whose primary purpose is to improve the quality and level of literacy in the state of Massachusetts. The MRA is affiliated with the International Literacy Association (ILA), a worldwide literacy organization with a network of 300,000 educators in 99 countries. The MRA promotes literacy for all learners through professional development, research, publications, and advocacy for the literacy community.
MRA serves educators across the state with 8 local councils that meet throughout the school year and one special interest council for higher education literacy educators. Throughout the year MRA committees and local/special interest councils offer workshops, presentations, and other events. The largest of these events, the MRA Annual Conference, takes place in April and features nationally known literacy speakers as well as homegrown expertise presented by local educators. All members are encouraged to become involved with MRA through their local or special interest council and with the state-wide MRA board. MRA Board members explore their specific areas of interest or expertise through involvement with board committees.
THESE GOALS ARE MET BY:
Supporting the mission of the International Literacy Association;
Organizing an annual state conference;
Disseminating best literacy practices to educators and parents;
Advocating for literacy issues through legislation;
Collaborating with educational institutions, professional organizations, authors, and businesses. MRA has over 500 members, including early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school teachers, reading and literacy specialists and coaches, teachers of students with special needs, library/media specialists, curriculum directors, other administrators, college and university professors, researchers, consultants, non-profit providers, and college students. Our members come from all over the state and some neighboring states. We partner with leaders from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE), the Massachusetts Library Association, and other professional organizations. We welcome you to join us! Go to Councils to find a council near you or to Membership to learn how to join!