NEA’s Read Across America Brings the Joy of Reading—and the Freedom to Read—to Students and Classrooms Nationwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Across the country, students and educators are celebrating reading today and every day, as our classrooms and communities participate in NEA’s Read Across America, the association’s flagship literacy program providing joyful, inclusive reading experiences for every student. Today, kindergarten and first-grade students at Cardinal Elementary School, in Arlington, Virginia, kicked off this year’s celebration by hosting a national “Read-In” with NEA President Becky Pringle as well as other union leaders and Arlington Education Association members. Cardinal students, of all grades, also received new books, donated to them by NEA. 

Beyond classroom celebrations, NEA’s Read Across America reinforces a commitment to protecting students’ right to read books that reflect their identities and experiences by ensuring access to inclusive, diverse, and engaging books throughout the year. The program highlights authors and illustrators whose stories reflect the rich backgrounds and lived experiences of today’s students while helping educators and families find books they can enjoy together.

“On NEA’s Read Across America Day, we recognize those who intentionally carve out space for students to read boldly and freely—who host Read-Ins, not just as celebrations, but as commitments to the freedom to read,” said Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association. “At a time when some politicians are censoring ideas and banning books, educators, students, and parents are standing firm. They know books help students understand both our shared humanity and our differences, and they refuse to let fear dictate what young people can learn. In classrooms across the country, choosing to teach the truth, protect diverse stories, and defend every student’s right to read is not just instruction—it is principled resistance. Every student, no matter their race or ZIP code, deserves educators who safeguard their freedom to read in a world as complex and expansive as the one they inhabit.”

Elsewhere, from John Will Elementary in Mobile, Alabama, where costumed guest readers shared stories, to Anderson, South Carolina, where students at Centerville Elementary are taking a literary journey to a new state each day during the first week of March, schools across the nation are turning reading into an adventure. In Shawnee Mission, Kansas, the school district keeps the celebration going year-round through “Read Across SMSD,” providing every school with monthly themed books and resources.

When schools and libraries are filled with vibrant, representative collections, students build curiosity, strengthen critical thinking skills, and deepen their understanding of history, community, and one another—skills essential for shaping a stronger future.

With an estimated 45 million people participating nationwide, NEA’s Read Across America promotes literacy, encourages a love of reading, and honors the importance of books in our lives through year-round events, resources, and promotion of diverse titles. NEA is making available online resources for all to use and share not only during the first week of March, but throughout any time of the year in celebration of NEA’s Read Across America. 

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest labor union, representing nearly 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, health care workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.