Learn how you can nominate individuals from your area for IRC awards or how to benefit from grant money that is available each year for various educational activities.

Awards

• Barack Obama Library Award. Do you know a teacher of 5th-8th-grade kids who could make good use of a classroom library? This award is a classroom library, valued at over $1000, which was created in 2006 through a generous gift to the IRC from (then) Senator Obama. This collection is comprised of carefully selected literature that is “culturally relevant” for African-American readers and targets students in the middle-school (5th-8th) grade range. This year there will be two awards.  One will be awarded to a teacher in or near Rockford, Illinois, and one library will go to a teacher in or near Cahokia, Illinois. The Nomination Guidelines and Form are available online. Nominations are due by November 1, 2011.
  

• IRC Service Award. The IRC will present the IRC Service Award (formerly known as the Certificate of Recognition) at the annual IRC Annual Meeting. Certificates are awarded to the most deserving individuals who meet the criteria listed. The IRA State Coordinator shall receive the nomination forms and final determination of the recipients will be made by the Executive Committee no later than 60 days prior to the annual meeting. Deadline: All Nomination Forms must be received by November 1, 2011. The Nomination Guidelines and Form are now available online.

• Council of Excellence Award. The Award of Excellence recognizes local and special interest councils that organize and conduct well-rounded programs serving the council members, the community, and the state association. The majority of requirements for this award are to be completed before March 1, 2012. 

• Gene Cramer ICARE for Reading Award. The Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education recognizes an educator who has performed in an outstanding manner to show concern for the affective domain and who has performed lifelong reading habits among students. The award is given annually at the March meeting of ICARE to be held in conjunction with the IRC Conference in Springfield. The Nomination Form is due by January 1, 2012.

• Hall of Fame Award. The IRC has designed the Hall of Fame to recognize significant contributions to reading or reading education. Two awards will be given at the annual statewide conference. The immediate Past President shall receive the nomination forms and final determination will be made by the Executive Committee no later than 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting. Deadline: All Nomination Forms must be received by November 1, 2011. The Nomination Guidelines and Form are now available online.

• Hall of Councils. The Hall of Councils at the Annual Conference in March allows councils the opportunity to advertise activities and accompllishments and to promote membership with a display.

• Illinois Reading Educator of the Year Award. This award recognizes outstanding teachers who make contributions in promoting literacy among students, colleagues, and school communities. Deadline: Application Form, letters of recommendation, and your philosophy statement are due by November 1, 2011. The Application Form is now available online.

• IRA Exemplary Reading Program Award. The IRA Exemplary Reading Program Award is sponsored by the International Reading Association to recognize outstanding reading and language arts programs at all grade levels (elementary, middle, and high school). The deadline is November 15, 2011.

• Legislator of the Year Award. This award recognizes an Illinois Legislator who demonstrates outstanding contributions toward advocating literacy and education in Illinois. Nominations are due by November 1, 2011 to the IRC Legislative Committee and the award will be given during the IRC Conference on Wednesday, March 14, 2012.

• Parents and Reading Award. This award recognizes an IRC member who promotes and supports parent involvement in children's reading. Deadline for nominations is November 1, 2011 and submission of materials is December 1, 2011. The Nomination Form is now available online.

• Prairie State Award for Excellence in Writing for Children. This award recognizes an Illinois Children's/young adult author whose body of work demonstrates excellence, engenders a love of literature, and embraces an important part of the mission of the Illinios Reading Council—to promote lifelong literacy. Deadline: All Nomination Packets must be postmarked by June 8, 2012.
  

• Static Stick Decal Design Contest. Students in grade 4, 5, or 6 are encouraged to create an original design promoting reading. The winning design is printed on static stick decals. Entries must be postmarked no later than January 15, 2012. The Application Form is now available online.

Grants

• Adult & Family Literacy Grant. The Illinois Reading Council Adult and Family Literacy Committee will award up to $750 to local councils to develop and implement projects to help address adult literacy issues. Literacy projects that involve adults or adults with their children will be considered for funding. The Grant Application is now available online. Proposals should be postmarked by November 1, 2011. Grantees will be notified by December 15, 2011.

• International Grant. The International Committee of the Illinois Reading Council has created a grant to promote literacy projects internationally. Studies indicate that poverty levels and literacy rates are inversely proportional. By supporting our international community in the areas of literacy, it in turn improves our universal society. The IRC wants to support these efforts. The Grant Application and Guidelines are available online. The maximum amount per grant is $1,000. The application deadline is May 1, 2012. Grants will be awarded for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012. Awards will be announced by July 1, 2012.
  
  
• Literacy Support Grant. The Illinois Reading Council will award financial grants to local and special interest councils and individuals council members for the purpose of promoting literacy development in the school and community, and/or providing professional development opportunities related to the improvement of reading and writing instruction. If fulfilling one of the above stated purposes requires a joint effort with another school, district, or other agency, letters stating their intended involvement are required from these agencies. The Guidelines and Application Forms are available online. There is no specific amount per grant. The amount awarded for each grant may be less than the amount requested. Application deadline will be May 1, 2012. Grants will be awarded for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. Awards will be announced by July 1, 2012.

• State Foundation for Literacy Grant Program (IRCSFL). The IRCSFL is intended to assist IRC members, including student members, and their collaborators to conduct literacy research or to develop special projects related to literacy principally in the State of Illinois. The grant shall be funded by the State Foundation for Literacy. Upon completion of the project, a report, in manuscript form, shall be submitted to the Board of Directors (IRCSFL) of the Illinois Reading Council Foundation for Literacy. In addition, an oral report may be requested by the Foundation's Board of Directors. The Guidelines and Application Forms are now available online. Proposals must be received by June 25 of the current year to receive funding consideration for that year.