The Need

Reading is the gateway to learning; yet right now in Oregon, thousands of children aren’t prepared to meet an educational milestone essential to learning success: third-grade reading. State assessment data from the 2022-23 school year shows that only 40% of Oregon’s third-grade students are meeting state reading standards. Furthermore, an alarming education gap exists among historically marginalized students, including students of color, students with disabilities, and students from low-wealth households.

When kids learn to read, they unlock benefits and opportunities that last a lifetime.

Who We Are

The Early Literacy Success Alliance (ELSA) is a coalition of Oregon nonprofit partners and public libraries with proven impact dedicated to providing children and their families with the access, support, resources and instruction they need to establish a strong foundation of literacy.

Collectively, we serve as valuable allies to the public education system, supporting educators, schools and school districts, and families by applying our mutual skills and resources to help ensure children are prepared for successful futures.

ELSA Members:

  • Metropolitan Family Service

  • Multnomah County Library

  • Reach Out and Read Northwest

  • Reading Results

  • The Shadow Project

  • SMART Reading

Our Mission

ELSA aims to:

  • Ignite and inspire community action to identify solutions for improving early literacy.

  • Actively participate in identifying and implementing early literacy solutions in Oregon.

  • Engage and empower Oregon families to help their children succeed through reading.

How We Can Help

ELSA brings to the table an already established network and series of partnerships rooted in research-based methods for improving early literacy in Oregon. Our message is clear: Rather than recreating the wheel to address these issues, we urge Oregon education leaders to take advantage of effective systems like ELSA already in place. Invest, don’t invent.