The Nila Banton Smith Teacher as Researcher Grant is a grant given biennially to teachers who conduct research inquiries in their classrooms and show outstanding leadership in connecting theory and current research to practice in literacy instruction. Applicants must be practicing pre-K-12 teachers with full-time or permanent half-time teaching responsibilities. This includes, but is not limited to, classroom teachers, librarians, Title I teachers, literacy coaches, specialists, and resource teachers. Proposals will be evaluated on Research question; Rationale for the research; Literature review; Methodology; Research significance; Clarity, cohesion, and specificity of proposal; and Budget and timeline for project. To be eligible, all applicants, including co-applicants, must be ILA members in good standing and maintain active membership through June 30, 2026. A research description and reference list must be submitted as one document, preferably a PDF. Budget information detailing anticipated expenses is also required. Please visit the award's website for more information.