For years, educators in Astoria were doing everything they thought they were supposed to do to teach kids how to read. The curriculum was widely used. Teachers were working hard. Students were trying their best.

But something wasn’t adding up.

In this narrated story, we follow Stephanie Sparks and a team of Astoria educators as they begin shifting their district to the science of reading — a research-backed approach to how the brain actually learns to read. With support from Northwest Regional ESD, the district is rebuilding its literacy system and seeing promising gains from students along the way.

Hear the story of how one coastal Oregon district is proving a simple but powerful idea: all students can learn to read.

Read this story.