Founded in 1970, the Institute of Reading Development has taught over two million students and trained more than five thousand teachers. Colleges, universities and other non-profit organizations nationwide contract with the Institute to provide reading programs in their communities. The curriculum and teacher training programs offered have been developed by the Institute’s founder, Paul Copperman, who is the author of two influential books on education. In 1982, the United States Senate confirmed Mr. Copperman’s Presidential appointment to the National Council on Educational Research. They offer programs both in classroom and online formats.