Community Efforts Aim to Boost Student Reading in Salem

Educators and local organizations provide tips for families to support literacy at home

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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A recent town hall in Salem, Oregon addressed the city's record-low student reading scores, with panelists from the school district, a literacy center, and a local elementary school teacher offering suggestions for how families and the broader community can help get kids reading. Recommendations include making reading fun through games and activities, reducing screen time, and supporting local literacy initiatives like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library book program.

Why it matters

Improving childhood literacy is a key priority for Salem-Keizer schools, as recent test scores showed that three out of four third graders in the district are not reading at grade level. Experts say getting the whole community involved, from families to local organizations, is crucial to cultivating a culture of reading and setting students up for long-term academic success.

The details

The town hall featured a panel of education professionals who shared strategies for boosting student reading, with a focus on ways families can supplement classroom learning at home. Suggestions included making reading interactive and engaging through activities like scavenger hunts for spelling words, having kids write grocery lists, and reading aloud in silly voices. Panelists also emphasized the importance of reducing screen time and building a home environment where reading is a regular, enjoyable habit.

  • The town hall was held on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
  • New test scores released last fall showed that three in four third graders in the Salem-Keizer School District are not reading at their grade level.

The players

Andrea Castañeda

Superintendent of the Salem-Keizer School District.

Dana Nerenberg

Oregon director of the Center for Early Literacy and Learning Success.

Jessica DeFrancisco

A teacher at Sumpter Elementary School in Salem.

Dolly Parton Imagination Library

A program that mails free books monthly to children ages 0-5 across Oregon, managed locally by the Early Learning Hub.

Salem-Keizer Coalition for Equity

A local organization that provides Spanish-language parent education and early learning programs focused on literacy.

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What they’re saying

“Reading is something that we want to spark joy and love in for our kids, and currently, we have shifted away from having kids enjoy reading and having it be more of an academic chore, for lack of better words, because everything gets assessed.”

— Jessica DeFrancisco, Teacher, Sumpter Elementary School (salemreporter.com)

“As much as I'd like to say that in the short time that I get to be with every single one of my kiddos, that I will get to give them every single piece of thing that they're going to need, I can't, and I won't, and that's not a failure on my part. That's just the reality of time restraints and some of them I would happily keep for a lot longer too … but I want to make sure that we know when I send them home that I'm sending them home with that habit and that routine already built in place.”

— Jessica DeFrancisco, Teacher, Sumpter Elementary School (salemreporter.com)

“Just creating that culture where reading is part of your everyday experience is important.”

— Dana Nerenberg, Director, Center for Early Literacy and Learning Success (salemreporter.com)

“We all have a chance to correct that narrative … We have students who can't read yet and we have students who can't read proficiently yet, but we have an entire school system full of kids who are going to be readers. I think it just takes all of us to remind people in the community that yes, this work is important, but I will always resist the narrative of a crisis.”

— Andrea Castañeda, Superintendent, Salem-Keizer School District (salemreporter.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This story highlights the collaborative effort underway in Salem to boost childhood literacy, with educators, community organizations, and families all playing a role in cultivating a love of reading and setting students up for long-term academic success. By making reading fun and accessible at home, the community can supplement the work being done in classrooms and help ensure all Salem students become proficient readers.