Back-to-school preparation looked a little different for hundreds of Salem-Keizer elementary teachers this summer.
Before students returned to classrooms, educators spent time learning a new districtwide reading curriculum designed to bring better consistency to how children develop foundational literacy skills. The new program, Into Reading from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, is being introduced across Salem-Keizer Public Schools for the 2026–27 school year.
For local families, the change means elementary students throughout the district will be learning from the same core reading program, with materials available in both English and Spanish.
Building Stronger Reading Foundations
Young students build literacy through skills such as understanding letter sounds, practicing phonics, developing vocabulary, and learning how sounds work together to form words. Salem-Keizer educators have previously said the district’s existing materials did not provide strong enough phonics instruction, often requiring teachers to find additional resources to supplement their lessons.
The new curriculum is intended to provide a more comprehensive and consistent approach.
During an earlier classroom pilot, students practiced foundational skills such as identifying letter sounds and spelling words, which gave teachers an opportunity to experience the new lessons before the districtwide rollout.
One Curriculum Across Salem-Keizer Schools
Consistency is one of the biggest changes families may notice.
Instead of individual schools or teachers relying heavily on different supplemental materials, the district is moving toward a common reading program across its elementary schools. The shared approach gives teachers a more unified framework for lessons while helping students encounter similar routines and expectations throughout the district.
If a student moves to a different neighborhood or transfers to another elementary school within the district, they can step into a classroom using familiar routines, materials, and instructional approaches. The same is true for educators who move between schools, since they won’t have to learn an entirely different reading program.
At an Aug. 25 training at West Salem High School, approximately 330 teachers representing 42 schools participated in training on the new curriculum. Additional professional development was also scheduled as part of the district’s summer preparation.
The transition represents a significant investment in the young people of our community. Salem Reporter reported that the curriculum will affect every student who enrolls in the Salem-Keizer School District, both now and in the future. It’s expected to cost approximately $11 million to implement.
Supporting English and Spanish Readers
Another important part of the new curriculum is its availability in both English and Spanish. Salem-Keizer’s dual-language programs have grown in recent years, and district educators previously raised concerns that existing curriculum options did not serve students learning to read in Spanish as well as they could.
With Into Reading, the district will have instructional materials designed for both languages as it works to support students across its diverse school community.
Teachers Prepare for a New School Year
Changing curriculum is a big undertaking for teachers, too. Educators must become familiar with new lesson structures, classroom materials, routines, and expectations—all while preparing their classrooms and students for another school year. For Salem-Keizer families, those hours of preparation are happening largely behind the scenes. But they’ll show up every day as teachers guide students through reading lessons, sound exercises, writing activities, and plenty of practice.
A new curriculum alone won’t determine a child’s success in reading, but having strong, consistent materials gives teachers another tool to help students build skills from one year to the next.
As Salem-Keizer students settle back into their classrooms, this districtwide reading shift marks a new chapter for elementary education in our community. Local educators hope this change will help more children become confident readers.
Official Source & Reference Links
- Local Reporting Source: Teachers prepare to roll out new literacy curriculum at Salem-Keizer schools – Salem Reporter