International Reading Association

The International Reading Association (IRA) was founded in 1956 through the merger of the National Association for Remedial Teachers and the International Council for the Improvement of Reading Instruction, aimed at enhancing reading instruction worldwide.[1][2][4] It grew from 5,000 members in 1956 to nearly 90,000 by 2002, with headquarters initially in Chicago before moving to Newark, Delaware in 1961, and later rebranded as the International Literacy Association in 2015.[1][3] The organization supports literacy professionals through research, advocacy, professional development, and global partnerships across numerous countries.[2][5][6]