About the Commission

All of us need to be able to write. Whether in our schools, our places of work or in our personal lives, writing is critical. It is for this reason that, in 2002, the College Board founded the National Commission on Writing. Its purpose is to focus national attention on the teaching and learning of writing, and respond to the growing concern within the education, business and policymaking communities that, despite much good work taking place in our classrooms, the level of writing in the United States is not what it should be. The commission is currently chaired by Bob Kerrey, president of The New School. The commission uses multiple strategies to promote the teaching and learning of writing, to keep writing in the public eye, and to increase funding for writing efforts. Following are examples of its ongoing work:

• Reports to Congress and the nation on the importance of writing.
• Awards to those who contribute to the teaching and learning of writing.
• Linking writing to other parts of literacy efforts.
• Increasing federal funds to groups like the National Writing Project.
• Public service campaigns to increase awareness about the importance of writing.