• About SCIRA

Our Mission

The South Carolina State Council of the International Reading Association provides a forum for individuals who are concerned with the teaching and improvement of reading in South Carolina. Our primary commitment is to promote literacy through the improvement of reading instruction, to encourage reading as a lifetime tool for learning, and to foster the formation of the reading habit.

Our Goals

1. To support the mission and purposes of the SCIRA.*
2. To support the efforts of local councils in promoting, retaining, and increasing local, state, and international memberships of educators and students.
3. To support efforts to influence legislation and policies that affect the advancement of literacy.
4. To build working relationships with other state professional organizations which impact literacy.
5. To gain recognition as an organization promoting literacy for all in South Carolina.

*As stated in the policy manual, the purposes of the council shall be:

1. To encourage the study of literacy instruction at all educational levels;
2. To study the various factors that influence progress in reading;
3. To disseminate to various local councils knowledge regarding trends, research, and new developments in the teaching of reading;
4. To promote research in and support implementation of best practices in reading;
5. To collaborate with teaching training programs;
6. To promote mutual understanding and cooperative work among educators in Pre-K – 12 and past secondary levels, and leadership positions;
7. To support the organization of new councils in areas of need;
8. To sponsor an annual reading conference, supported by the various local councils, with special emphasis upon improving professional standards in the teaching of reading and related language arts.