About

Our Purpose

The purpose of the Iowa Reading Research Center is to improve the literacy proficiency of pre-kindergarten through twelfth-grade students.

To that end, the IRRC’s work is done in four main categories:

A teacher discusses assignments with students.

Research

Conducting research in practical settings to evaluate the effectiveness of literacy practices and the usefulness of assessments for guiding literacy instruction

Research

Teachers training at an educator workshop

Professional Learning

Facilitating professional learning for educators on literacy instructional strategies and related topics online through eLearning and in-person at workshops and conferences.

Professional Learning

IRRC Assistive Technology staff responds to questions online.

Technical Assistance

Collaborating with local education agencies to provide technical assistance involving planning and implementation to address a specific literacy issue.

Technical Assistance

Family Resources

Offering family resources to help family members and caregivers take an active role in their children’s literacy skill development; assisting families affected by a reading disability through assistive technology consultation and eLearning.

Family Resources

All efforts of the Iowa Reading Research Center are conducted in collaboration with educators, parents, community representatives, and policymakers. Results have a direct application to literacy policy and education in Iowa.

A student from the College of Education smiles at an elementary school student.

Lindsay and Stephanie at Dyslexia Day booth at the Capital

The Iowa Reading Research Center is part of the University of Iowa College of Education.

It operates in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Education.