Introduction
Why is early literacy important?
The Importance of Investing in Literacy Early Brain science tells us that babies develop emergent literacy skills from birth, prompting a need to start supporting parents and caregivers and their children well before children begin the K-12 education journey. To build this readiness for school and to ensure schools are ready for students, parents and families must be recognized and supported as the first, most important teachers in a child’s life. Before a child learns to read and write, they learn to listen and speak in their home language. This aspect of parent engagement was a consistent theme in community engagement conducted by the Governor’s Office to inform the development of HB 3198 and is a theme strongly supported on a bipartisan basis.
Literacy begins at birth.
The first sounds a child may hear or see (signed) are the voices of the people in their home environment, building neural pathways and serving as the initial source of knowledge about language and their world. Families and caregivers are essential first partners in oral language development that cultivates later success in literacy and life. Families and communities strengthen school-based learning.
How early literacy at home and in community supports success in school:
Outside of school, children spend most of their lives at home or in the community. Parents and caregivers have a role to play in reinforcing the learning that happens at school as much as possible at home, and they must be supported as full partners in their children’s literacy development. Children’s literacy learning is deepened through their lived experiences, where their unique languages, cultures, and identities are affirmed by families and caregivers who serve as important first teachers.
About the Plan
1.1 Birth Through Five Literacy Plan Overview
Pursuant to ORS 327.839, on December 31, 2024, the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) submitted a report to inform the legislature on the Birth Through Five Literacy Plan. DELC developed the plan as a comprehensive framework aimed at improving early literacy outcomes for children from birth through age five. Grounded in the goals of the Early Literacy Success Initiative (2023 HB 3198), the plan emphasizes equity, cultural responsiveness, inclusivity, and addresses disparities in access to quality literacy programs and services.
DELC’s Birth Through Five Literacy Plan has three goals informed by community input:
Goal 1: Expand Culturally Specific Early Literacy Programs
Goal 2: Promote the Capacity of Programs that Engage Families in Early Literacy
Goal 3: Support Language Revitalization Efforts for Tribal Nations
To shape the goals, strategies, and outcomes of the Birth Through Five Literacy Plan, DELC relied on research and community input. DELC conducted an in-depth review of evidence-based practices and research from high-quality early literacy strategies, with a focus on strategies proven to strengthen early literacy skills in young children, ensuring alignment with the plan’s objectives.
DELC also gathered in depth community feedback. In the spring of 2024, DELC engaged directly with DELC-funded programs and a wide range of child care providers. In the fall of 2024, DELC partnered with Oregon’s Kitchen Table (OKT) to conduct a statewide outreach effort. The goal was to understand what supports are most helpful for those working with families of children from birth to age five in developing foundational literacy skills—such as language, early writing, and listening. OKT’s multicultural, multilingual team facilitated inclusive engagement through surveys for caregivers, providers, and families and community conversations with families, including Spanish-speaking families, Native and Indigenous families, and parent leadership groups. Six statewide organizations helped host and promote these conversations, including public libraries, Healthy Families Oregon, the Oregon Head Start Association, and Early Learning Hubs. In total, over 400 individuals participated. Their input was analyzed and distilled into key takeaways that informed the final plan.