This book addresses an important but long-overlooked area of educational reform-the need to improve the teaching and practice of writing. Sponsored by the nation's most respected organization concerned with writing in schools, Because Writing Matters shows what school leaders, teachers, and other educators need to do to develop effective writing programs at all grade levels. It offers action steps prioritized from the easily achieved to the larger and longer term, and has been newly updated to reflect the most recent research and educational priorities. The National Writing Project (Berkeley, CA) is a nationwide professional development program for teachers. Carl Nagin (Berkeley, CA), a former staff reporter for the PBS series Frontline is a freelance writer and investigative journalist who has written for the New York Times and the New Yorker.