Salem Reporter to host town hall on reading crisis in local schools

Three in four third graders in Salem-Keizer can’t read at the level expected for their age.

That startling number is top of mind for parents, educators and taxpayers in Oregon.

How did we get here?

What’s being done to fix it?

And how can the community help?

To answer those questions, Salem Reporter will host a Town Hall on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 6 p.m. on the reading crisis in Salem-Keizer schools. The event is at the Elsinore Theatre.

The panel will feature three speakers:

• Andrea Castañeda, superintendent, Salem-Keizer School District.

• Jessica DeFrancisco, third-grade teacher, Sumpter Elementary School.

• Dana Nerenberg, Oregon director, Center for Early Literacy and Learning Success.

Changing course on reading has been a key goal for Salem-Keizer School District educators and leaders in recent years. New data released this fall showed the first signs of progress in three years. About 160 more students were on track in reading across the district.

That still means thousands aren’t.

Castañeda will explain how the school district is responding.

“Students are at the center of all we do and helping students read and write at grade level is our great privilege and responsibility. Our plan involves high quality teaching paired with high quality instructional materials, and we are on our way. This is an important moment for our community to join us in this work because the success of our students depends on all of us,” Castañeda said.

The day-to-day work of teaching children to read is done by hundreds of teachers. Those include classroom educators and specialized teachers who work in smaller groups with struggling students.

“Reading is an incredibly complex skill and is something that we all continue to improve on through practice for most of our lives. It is more challenging for our classroom teachers when students come to school with varying degrees of readiness to learn to read. The teacher’s job is to assess where each child’s abilities are, then work from there to support every student to becoming a successful reader,” DeFrancisco explained.

The causes and implications of the reading crisis stretch well beyond schools. Students who struggle to read are more likely not to graduate high school and lack skills to succeed in college or the workforce.

“Strong literacy skills open doors to learning. When we implement research-informed practices, we ensure every child can read by third grade, we’re building a foundation for skilled learners and a stronger Oregon,” Nerenberg said.

Moderating the panel will be Salem Reporter Editor Les Zaitz. Managing Editor Rachel Alexander and Senior Reporter Abbey McDonald will question panelists from the stage.

Speakers will share how anyone in the community can help make a difference for students.

“This is a vital topic for our community,” said Zaitz. “This evening is to help all of us better understand what’s at stake – and what can be done. Anyone with a stake in Salem’s future should plan to attend.”

Capital Community Media will broadcast the event live on YouTube and Channel 21 and replay it in the following days.