LITERACY TODAY | July/August 2020 | literacyworldwide.org
Hiatus for Choices Reading Lists
As a result of disruptions to schools and businesses caused by
COVID-19, the Choices reading program has been suspended
for the upcoming year 2020–2021. The 2020 Choices reading
lists, published this May, were completed prior to COVID-
related closures. Those lists can be downloaded for free at
literacyworldwide.org/choices. The 2020 Teachers’ Choices
titles can be purchased through our partner Booksource
(booksource.com/ila-collections). If you have any questions,
please contact choices@reading.org.
We recently launched ILA at Home, a
new series of one-hour webinars from
leading voices in the literacy field. The
live broadcast includes the opportunity
to interact through a presenter Q&A, but
the events are also available to watch
at a later time. So if you missed out on
our webinar with Timothy Shanahan
in May, you can still register (free for
ILA members!) to access the archive,
which is available until May 2021.
Nonmembers can register for $45. An
upcoming webinar in July will feature
Marjorie Lipson, Victoria J. Risko, and
Jeanne Paratore, and a webinar with
Donalyn Miller, rescheduled from May,
will be held in August.
ILA’s slate of digital events also
includes “Book Access in the Post-
COVID Era” with Molly Ness, Susan B.
Neuman, Allister Chang, and Karlos
L. Marshall, which takes place July 14
and is available free to all.
Visit literacyworldwide.org
/digitalevents for more information,
and be sure to check back often,
as new learning opportunities are
announced regularly.
ILA Digital Events
NAEP Reading Framework: Your
Feedback Is Wanted!
In the United States, the National Assessment Governing Board is
currently leading updates to the Reading Assessment Framework for
the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known
as the Nation’s Report Card. The framework guides development
of the assessments and defines what knowledge and skills students
need in reading and writing. Final updates to the framework will be
reflected in the administration of the 2025 reading assessments.
WestEd, a key partner in these efforts, has convened panels
of subject-matter experts, practitioners, and other stakeholders to
develop recommendations for improvement. An updated draft
of the Reading Assessment Framework was presented to the
general public for additional feedback in late June, and the public
comment period extends through July 23. To learn more about
the comment period and how to share your thoughts, visit
naepframeworkupdate.org/framework-draft.
ICYMI: ILA and
#KidLit4BlackLives Town Hall
ILA, in partnership with The Brown Bookshelf, the Society
of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and Versify, held
a free virtual town hall in June for teachers and families:
“How to Raise and Teach Anti-Racist Kids,” a follow-up to the
overwhelmingly successful KidLit Rally for Black Lives, hosted
by The Brown Bookshelf. The event was hosted by award-
winning author Kwame Alexander and featured moderator
Cornelius Minor with panelists Tiffany Jewell, Pam Allyn,
Dr. Noni Thomas López, and Karyn Parsons, followed by a
45-minute Q&A. If you missed out on this critical and timely
discussion, the recording is available on our YouTube page:
youtube.com/internationalliteracyassociation.