The program has five objectives:

1. To improve literacy in our society.
2. To recognize school staffs who demonstrate excellence in reading and literacy programs.
3. To encourage the development and refinement of exemplary reading/language arts programs.
4. To report to the public noteworthy efforts to improve reading/language arts.
5. To disseminate specific information about high quality programs so that other professionals can use it to improve their own instructional efforts.

The criteria for participating are as follows:

1. All public, private, and parochial elementary and secondary schools are eligible for the award if the school has at least one IRA member.

2. The school must apply with its entire reading program, not just one segment (i.e., Title I, resource room, library/media, teacher, one grade, and the like).

3. The fully completed application form must be signed by the chief school officer (e.g., superintendent).

4. The winning program should serve as a model for other schools and teachers.

5. A school receiving the award cannot apply again within a period of five years.

6. A school is not eligible to apply if a current state or provincial council officer is employed in the school.

Applications must be postmarked no later than November 15 and received at IRA Headquarters no later than November 22. Headquarters will then forward applications to the state/provincial Exemplary Reading Program Award Committees for review. A committee, which consists of knowledge reading educators, reviews each of the applications, using the specific criteria and scoring procedures established by IRA. Schools receiving a set point value are visited by representatives of FRA.

The school having the highest rating in each state will be awarded the Exemplary Reading Program Award. IRA will notify each winning school of the honor, and will invite representatives of the school to attend the IRA Annual Conventions, where the awards will be presented. FRA will also honor the winner and all finalists at the FRA Annual Conference.

2001 Winner - Waller

2000 Winner - Pathways