Aims & Scope

The Kentucky Literacy Journal is a peer-reviewed publication dedicated to advancing literacy education through research, practice, and critical inquiry. Published in partnership with the Kentucky Reading Association (KRA), the journal reflects the diverse interests and expertise of educators, researchers, and literacy advocates across Kentucky and beyond, serving professionals in K–12, postsecondary, and adult education contexts. Equally, the journal provides space for policy dialogue, encouraging authors to critically examine how literacy policies intersect with research, practice, and advocacy.

The journal seeks to promote the purposes of the Kentucky Reading Association and elevate the work of its local chapters throughout the state. It encourages the production and publication of high-quality articles by Kentucky residents, particularly those that explore literacy, literature, and reading from innovative, inclusive, and research-informed perspectives. By disseminating relevant research and information, the journal aims to foster professional dialogue and serve as a forum for expressing diverse viewpoints on literacy education.

Submissions may include:

• Original research that deepens understanding of academic literacy across varied populations and educational settings
• Classroom-based practices that demonstrate effective instructional strategies
• Critical essays that examine the sociopolitical, cultural, and ideological dimensions of literacy

Inspired by the scholarly rigor of Reading Research Quarterly, the classroom relevance of The Reading Teacher, and the practitioner-researcher ethos of journals such as English Journal, Voices from the Middle, and College Composition and Communication, the journal values a broad range of literacy perspectives.

These include multimodal and digital literacies that reflect contemporary communication, disciplinary and content-area literacies that support academic success, and teacher inquiry that positions classrooms as sites of knowledge creation. The journal also amplifies youth and community voices, recognizing the importance of lived experience and local knowledge in shaping literacy education.

Ultimately, The Kentucky Literacy Journal strives to foster a vibrant community of literacy professionals and contribute meaningfully to state and national conversations on literacy, literature, and reading—while celebrating and amplifying the voices and work of Kentucky educators.