Dive Brief:
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More than 250 schools throughout Oregon are using a total of $90 million in grants to adjust curriculum and support teacher training in line with the science of reading approach to literacy education.
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The effort is part of the Early Literacy Success Initiative, which passed the Oregon Legislature in June 2023 and provides funding for the adoption of literacy strategies “that are developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and grounded in the science of reading and writing,” said Angelica Cruz, director of literacy at the Oregon Department of Education.
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“Since the Early Literacy Success Initiative passed, every eligible charter and district has applied for the School District Grants” — which support comprehensive early literacy plans — “and 100% of the year one funding has been disbursed to approved applicants,” Cruz said.
Dive Insight:
While the science of reading is often compared to, or thought of, as a pure adoption of phonics, Cruz said there is much more to Oregon’s literacy initiative than a single approach. To start, there are four different components to the effort: the Early Literacy Success School District Grants, the Early Literacy Success Community Grants, the Early Literacy Success Tribal Grants, and the Birth through Five Literacy Plan.
“Oregon’s approach certainly has a strong focus on high-quality curriculum aligned to the science of reading but is inclusive of other elements of literacy instruction, as well,” Cruz said.
To ensure schools have this approach threaded throughout their curriculum, they are permitted to spend grant funding — and are — on professional development and coaching. Other areas of focus include what Cruz refers to as “small school library revitalization” and ensuring instructional practices are inclusive of all students, with particular attention on historically marginalized students, “who have been most marginalized when it comes to literacy instruction,” Cruz said.
“Together, these initiatives have built a vision with coordinated capacity and dedicated funding for strengthening literacy instruction in classrooms and communities across Oregon,” Cruz said.
