The items in this book were drawn from a symposium intended to (1) recommend priorities in national educational policy relating to reading; (2) focus attention on the essential role of an active two-way, family-school partnership in encouraging reading as a lifetime habit; and (3) help various organizations concerned with literacy and reading shape their goals and programs. In the book's forward, Mrs. George Bush discusses her role in promoting literacy and literacy education. This is followed by remarks made by Robert Andringa, Executive Director of the Education Commission of the States, concerning the state of public education in a changing world. The major portion of the book consists of backgroud papers presented at the symposium, along with responses and discussions. These materials, prepared by invited experts, represent the school administrator's, reading teacher's, parent/citizen's, and library media specialist's perspectives on literacy and reading. The remainder of the book contains recommendations and principles evolved by symposium participants. A bibliography of suggested readings is appended. (FL)