The International Literacy Association (ILA) announced today the cancellation of the ILA 2020 Conference, scheduled to take place Oct. 15–18 in Columbus, OH.

“Although this is a difficult announcement, it was not a hard decision to make because we knew it was the right decision,” said ILA Executive Director Marcie Craig Post. “The safety and health of our attendees, as well as everyone who helps shape the event, from speakers and sponsors to exhibitors and staff, is of the utmost importance.”

Before the detrimental effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the ILA 2020 Conference was expected to draw some 4,000 literacy professionals and educators from around the world. However, with schools and universities closed and travel restrictions in place, continuing to plan for an education conference “was not the right move for a professional development organization at this time,” Post said.

Post cited continuing challenges around budgets as another factor in the decision, as well as the critical task of students’ academic recovery following what’s been dubbed “the COVID slide.”

“Our members and all those who traditionally attend our conference need our support but not in the form of an in-person conference they likely wouldn’t be able to attend,” Post said.

Instead, ILA is focused on expanding its virtual learning options. Last month, ILA offered a free replay of six top sessions from the ILA 2019 Conference and held its first ILA Edcamp Online, becoming one of the first organizations to bring the popular, participant-driven “unconference” into a digital space.

The organization also launched on May 3 ILA at Home, a new series of webinars, beginning with Timothy Shanahan. The event attracted more than 1,400 registrants in 10 days. The second in the series, featuring Donalyn Miller, takes place May 31.

At the center of this slate of digital events is a new, progressive model of professional development ILA will announce next month.

“Nothing can compare to the experience of actually being at a face-to-face ILA conference,” Post said. “So rather than try to replicate it in a virtual space, we felt it made more sense to design something meant to be virtual from the start—something that maximizes the benefits of delivering PD on a digital platform.”

For more information, visit the Digital Events page of the ILA website.