This special issue of the newsletter "Council Connections" reports on the First North American Leadership Academy. The Academy's theme was "Strengthening the Operation of Reading Recovery" and its purpose was to develop opportunities for strengthening Reading Recovery in individual schools, sites, school districts and state and provinces throughout North America. The Academy focused on implementation planning (and re-planning), research, funding, and advocacy in Reading Recovery. The special issue begins with a summary of remarks of the keynote speaker (Marie Clay) and then summarizes presentations made in 7 separate conference sessions: (1) "Planning for the Effective Implementation of Reading Recovery and Descubriendo la Lectura"; (2) "Data Collection, Reporting, Monitoring, and Follow-up for Reading Recovery and Descubriendo la Lectura; (3) "Issues of Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Cost Benefits in Reading Recovery and Descubriendo la Lectura"; (4) "Building Ownership for Reading Recovery and Descubriendo la Lectura"; (5) "Grant Writing Workshop"; (6) "Examining the Legislative Process at Federal, State, and Local Levels; and (7) "Government Funding Sources." (RS)