The National Education Association is again sponsoring its “Read Across America” day, celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday. The events are set for March 1, since his birthday (March 2) falls on a Saturday. Policymakers and educators across the country will be donning Cat-in-the-Hat hats and reading to young children.

This represents an opportunity for the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, its partners and its Communities Network to promote early literacy and share the news about the good work we’ve begun. Newspapers or TV stations sending someone to shoot a picture or footage of the mayor reading to children might appreciate a substantive story or commentary piece about grade-level reading. Here’s what you can do:

• Plan or Join a Celebration: Check to see what your local schools and libraries are doing. If they have an event planned, join their effort. If not, plan one of your own. Invite key partners or coalition members to read to children. For ideas or materials on planning an event go to the NEA’s Read Across America page.
• Issue a Proclamation: Encourage your mayor or school boards to issue a proclamation addressing the importance of early literacy. Here’s the Read Across America template proclamation, adapted slightly to reflect our grade-level reading goals.
• Submit a Commentary Piece: Use the occasion to share the importance of grade-level reading and what your organization or your community is hoping to accomplish, as well as recruit new partners for your work. Remember, many TV and radio stations will allow you to read your commentary on air. To get you started, here’s a template op-ed.
• Pitch a News Story: Use this as an opportunity to tout the work your doing on grade-level reading to the local media. Have specific ideas about what you’d like them to feature and identify contacts in advance. Here’s a template pitch note.
• Share with the Network: If you’re a member of the Communities Network Ning, share your pictures, videos and ideas with your peers.