A conference focusing on the 2012 “hot issues” in literacy will be held on February 3 and 4, 2012, at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. 

The issues highlighted in the October/November Reading Today article will be discussed in depth. Any profits from the conference will be used to fund two non-profit groups: the IRA Special Interest Group Specialized Literacy Professionals and the newly formed Texas Association for Literacy Education (TALE). It is hoped that TALE will be the newest IRA affiliated state organization by the end of January 2012.

Among the speakers at the summit are a number of past Board members of IRA including past presidents Jerry Johns of Northern Illinois University and Jack Cassidy, Executive Secretary of the Specialized Literacy Professionals. Former Board member Jill Lewis-Spector from New Jersey City University will also be a featured speaker. Barbara Marinak, from Mount Saint Mary’s University in Maryland, co-chair of the IRA Task force on Response to Intervention (RTI) will be speaking on recent research and practice for RTI. Rich Long, IRA’s Director of Governmental Relations, will be providing legislative updates and funding sources. 

This summit will be the first national conference sponsored by an IRA SIG. All proposals will be refereed by a national panel. Proposals for sessions, poster sessions, and institutes are being accepted until November 15, 2011. More information, including proposal forms, is available on-line at: http://www.literacysummitwhatshot2012.com.