NEA created Read Across America in 1997 as a day to “get kids excited about reading”. Planning and sponsoring a Read Across America event offers a wonderful opportunity to involve all stakeholders–teachers, students, parents, and community—in the vital work of promoting literacy.
Each year, KEA budgets funds to support Read Across America events sponsored by KEA districts and KEA locals. Although March 2 of each year is traditionally designated as “Read Across America Day,” events can occur on any date.
The primary purpose of the Read Across America program is to promote literacy, and applications will be judged on the extent to which they accomplish that primary goal. In addition, KEA will judge grant requests based on the following criteria: the degree to which the activity encourages participation by multiple categories (Active, Retired and Student) of KEA membership, the number of children and students that are expected to participate, the expected level of publicity and community outreach, the extent to which the event helps develop strong KEA locals, and other relevant criteria that may be established and considered by the grant committee.
Application process: Applications must be submitted on this electronic form. Incomplete forms may not be considered; submissions will be deemed incomplete unless they include the required letter from the sponsoring local or district president.
All grant applications must be received by KEA on or before 11:59 PM eastern on Monday, September 15, 2025. Funding decisions will be made by KEA’s MOVE (Membership, Organizing, Visibility & Engagement) Committee on or before October 15, 2025.
The maximum grant amount is $500. Each KEA district or local may only receive one grant per year. Grant applications and funded Read Across America events must be sponsored by a KEA district or local. Grant checks will be written to the sponsoring KEA district or local, not to the individual submitting the application.
Please direct any questions to David Patterson at david.patterson@kea.org