Arlington, VA – July 17, 2026
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (National Board) is inviting educators, literacy experts, and other interested members of the public to review and provide feedback on the public draft of the Literacy: Reading–Language Arts (LRLA) Standards, Fourth Edition.
The public comment period will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
Developed through collaboration with literacy educators and experts across the country, the LRLA Standards describe exemplary practice for accomplished literacy teachers. The standards are grounded in the Five Core Propositions, which serve as the foundation for the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and beliefs demonstrated by National Board Certified Teachers.
The Fourth Edition reflects significant updates, including a consolidation from 13 standards to 10. Key revisions include:
- Expanded Reading and Writing to emphasize explicit, systematic literacy instruction and essential components such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension.
- Integrated Listening and Speaking into Reading to reflect literacy as an integrated, language-based process.
- Expanded Teacher as a Learner and Reflective Practitioner to emphasize continuous learning, professional responsibility, informed instructional decision-making, and reflection.
- Embedded Collaboration with Families and Communities to recognize the important role of students’ families, cultures, communities, experiences, and everyday literacy practices in literacy development.
- Expanded Visual Literacy to reflect the growing importance of viewing and visual communication in today’s information-rich world.
Each standard includes a summary that describes an essential aspect of accomplished literacy teaching and an elaboration that provides additional context about what accomplished teachers need to know, value, and do.
Feedback on Digital Supports
The National Board is also seeking feedback on digital supports being considered for an online version of the LRLA Standards. These may include:
- Reflection questions
- Key terms and concise explanations
- “What This Means for Teachers” callouts
- Audio supports
Reviewers are also encouraged to suggest additional features that could enhance clarity, accessibility, usability, and engagement with the standards.
The National Board appreciates the time, expertise, and thoughtful feedback of all who participate in the public comment process. Feedback will help inform the continued development of the Literacy: Reading–Language Arts Standards, Fourth Edition.
The public comment period closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 16, 2026.