LITERACY. NOW.
A National Parent-Led Conference to End the Literacy
Crisis presented by Parents for Reading Justice
We believe parents are the missing lever for national change.
Across the country, millions of children are struggling to read — not because they can’t learn, but because they have not been taught with evidence-based literacy instruction grounded in the Science of Reading. For too long, families have been left navigating confusion, misinformation, and systems that fail to meet the needs of struggling readers. Parents are often the first to recognize something is wrong — yet many feel isolated, dismissed, or unsure where to turn. It’s time to change that.
LITERACY. NOW. is a first-of-its-kind national parent-led virtual conference created to educate, empower, and activate families to advocate for evidence-based literacy instruction in every school, for every child. This event will bring together nationally recognized literacy experts, researchers, advocates, and legal experts for an urgent and inspiring conversation about:
the literacy crisis in America,
the science of how children learn to read,
the emotional impact of reading failure,
parents’ educational rights,
and how grassroots advocacy can create real change.
Whether you are a parent, educator, advocate, policymaker, or community member — this conference is for anyone who believes literacy is a fundamental right.
Mission
To educate and activate parents to hold the education system accountable for evidence-based literacy instruction.
Event Details
📅 Date: Sunday, August 2, 2026
🕒 Time: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM EST
💻 Location: Virtual Event
Featured Speakers
Kareem Weaver - National Literacy Advocate
Session: Reading Saves Lives: Literacy as a Civil Right, a Human Right, and a Public Health Crisis
Louisa Moats - Literacy Expert & Researcher
Session: 95% of Children Can Learn to Read: The Science We’ve Known for Decades and How It Continues to Evolve
Kerry Agins - Special Education Attorney
Session: The Law Is on Your Side: IDEA, FAPE, Child Find, and the Civil Rights That Protect Every Child
Steve Dykstra - Clinical Psychologist & Science of Reading Advocate
Session: The Hidden Wound: How Reading Failure Traumatizes Children and Why We Must Do Better
Brett Tingley - National Literacy Advocate
Session: From Outrage to Outcomes: How Parents Fixed a District, Changed a State, and Built a National Movement
Who Should Attend?
Parents & caregivers
Dyslexia advocates
Educators & interventionists
Special education advocates
Legislators
School board members & policymakers
Community leaders
Anyone passionate about literacy and educational equity
Why This Matters
Nearly 70% of American children are not reading proficiently. This is not just an education issue — it is a civil rights issue, a public health issue, and a
national crisis. The good news? We know how to teach children to read. And when informed, empowered parents organize together, change happens.
Join families and advocates from across the country for an unforgettable event focused on truth, hope, action, and literacy justice.
LITERACY. NOW. Because children cannot wait.