Recently, NWP Site Leaders Received this Important call to action:

The Obama Administration has proposed that funding for NWP be consolidated with that of five other literacy programs under a new competitive program aimed at improving literacy instruction. In order to secure the funding offered under this program, state education agencies would compete for funds, alone or in partnership with outside entities (such as a writing project site or an institution of higher education). Successful states would use the funds as they think best in pursuit of the goals of this block grant program.

At the very least, this would mean zero direct funding for the National Writing Project network, and no funding possible for any local site in a state that chose not to compete or was unsuccessful in competing for this funding. It is very important that all of us work closely with our congressional offices to explain how NWP, a highly successful national infrastructure, is put at risk by this funding strategy.

We need to contact our legislators this week, if possible, before the education budget is presented) to ask for their support for the NWP.

Direct funding for the NWP is imperative! When you speak to legislators about the importance of a federal investment in NWP,
Funding for NWP supports:

1. The national goal of helping students graduate prepared for college and career-ready;
2. Tens of thousands of teachers prepared to serve as a professional development resource to their colleagues and local schools;
3. A national improvement infrastructure with proven practices that support the success of local writing project sites in providing high-quality professional development to local schools;
4. National programs and initiatives that extend and strengthen the work of local sites, and that support site leaders in enhancing their work and sharing knowledge across the network.

NWP accomplishes all of this because it is a highly developed and effective national infrastructure that includes broad reach, local usability and responsiveness, and reliable quality. Without direct funding, this infrastructure is in jeopardy. As all of you know, the NWP network enables successful teachers in diverse communities across the country to collaborate with and learn from one another to improve student achievement.

And here's a letter written by Sherry Swain that Elyse Eidman-Aadahl shared with me that might help as you compose yours: