The 2013 Louisiana Reading Association annual state conference will be held Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-7, at the Clarion Inn and Suites Conference Center in Monroe.

The deadline for early registration is Friday; onsite registration will be accepted until maximum capacity has been reached.

A Pre-Conference School Blitz, hosted by the Louisiana Department of Education, will be held from 8-11 a.m. on Dec. 6. This event provides an opportunity for educators, parents, and business leaders to get a glimpse of some of the exemplary literacy practices occurring in Louisiana schools. Attendance for the Pre-Conference School Blitz requires additional registration to the annual conference.

Parents, educators, and business leaders across the nation are talking about the impact of the Common Core State Standards. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to hear from leading experts in the field of literacy about the CCSS.

Highlights of the “Read, Lead and Succeed” conference may be found at www.lareading. org under the conference tab. Keynote speakers include nationally known literacy experts, Dr. Vicki Gibson, Dr. Timothy Rasinski and Barbara Johnson. Other outstanding speakers include Drs. Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey, as well as featured classroom teacher Ann Buisson. IRA Past President Dr. Carrice Cummins and Louisiana Department of Education Superintendent John White will be special guest speakers.

The Pre-Conference School Blitz will occur on Friday, Dec. 6, from 8-11 a.m., providing an opportunity for educators, parents, and business leaders to get a glimpse of some of the exemplary literacy practices occurring in state schools. Attendance for the Pre-Conference School Blitz requires additional registration to the annual conference.

The Conference Team extends an invitation to the public to attend by registering for the conference ($95) and the Pre-Conference School Blitz ($20) for this exciting opportunity to visit area schools and network with educators across the state. See www.lareading.org for more information about the Pre-Conference School Blitz on Friday and the conference on Friday and Saturday, or send an email to conference@ lareading.org.