Specialized Literacy Professionals is a special interest group devoted to the needs and concerns of those with specialized training or responsibilities in reading or literacy. As defined in the ILA publication Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals (2017), these are individuals that include reading/literacy specialists, literacy coaches, literacy coordinators/supervisors, as well as classroom teachers, literacy support personnel, teacher educators, and principals.
Originally named Professionalizing Careers in Reading/Literacy Development, followed by Specialized Reading Professionals, this special interest group has been in existence since 1988. Included in its membership are many distinguished professionals, authors, professors, and Reading Hall of Fame members.
Originally named Professionalizing Careers in Reading/Literacy Development, followed by Specialized Reading Professionals, this special interest group has been in existence since 1988. Included in its membership are many distinguished professionals, authors, professors, and Reading Hall of Fame members.
Why Join?
Specialized Literacy Professionals publishes a refereed yearbook, conducts research, holds conferences, sponsors webinars, provides mentorship opportunities, and helps to fund activities related to the literacy field through a grant. Some of these issues that SLP has researched advocated for have included: the plight of reading specialists and involving more P-12 educators in leadership roles.
Specialized Literacy Professionals also offers to its membership the following:
Specialized Literacy Professionals also offers to its membership the following:
- a professional network for collaboration, including research and collaborative authorship
- awards such as The Jack Cassidy Award for Scholarly Contributions
- a newsletter and opportunities to announce recent publications
- opportunities for service
- opportunities for funding of projects through a grant program