OAKLAND MAYOR Barbara Lee was joined by community advocates at the steps of City Hall on Thursday to announce the launch of a child literacy program that leaders hope will improve education outcomes and reduce crime rates.
The new free citywide initiative Oakland Reads 1234! aims to increase literacy rates in Oakland for students below the age of 6 by providing free online resources, songs for young children to practice the alphabet, and gift cards to parents as an incentive to continuously track their children’s progress.
Several early-learning organizations and community leaders joined Lee for the press conference announcing the new program. Lee emphasized the crucial link between young children reaching key education milestones and reducing crime across the city.
“If we want safer neighborhoods tomorrow, we have to invest in our children today,” said Lee. “And one of the most powerful investments that we could make is early literacy. Reading in general, it builds confidence, it opens doors, and it really helps break cycles before they start.”
A mayoral commendation was presented to Oakland native Theresa Anderson for her work improving literacy rates across the city as the program director for the reading nonprofit 1234! Home Reading Helper. Anderson thanked the mayor for the recognition and said the work to improve literacy in Oakland was far from over and the partnership between the city and her organization will bring long-term change.
“We know that when a child enters third grade without reading proficiency, their entire educational journey becomes harder,” said Anderson. “They struggle to keep up, and they lose confidence. Too often they disconnect from school altogether, and we know where that path can lead, towards dropping out, towards fewer opportunities and yes, towards increased vulnerability to violence and crime.”
Anderson said her reading program is currently partnered with three schools in Oakland but hopes to reach more students through the new partnership with the city. She pointed to Latino and Black communities as particular locations that have high rates of illiteracy.
Oakland Unified School District, according to California Department of Education data for the 2024-25 school year, has 33.7 percent of its students meeting reading standards for their respective grade level.
When compared to other school districts in Alameda County, OUSD falls behind. Students from Latino, Black, Native American, and Pacific Islander communities lag behind their peers.
Diveena Cooppan from the Oakland Human Services Department said targeted education efforts must begin early when children are below the age of 5 to prevent negative life outcomes.
“We know 90 percent of a child’s brain development happens in the first five years of a child’s life,” said Cooppan. “When families are supported to read with their children early and often, we see stronger language skills, social emotional development and confidence.”
If we want safer neighborhoods tomorrow, we have to invest in our children today. And one of the most powerful investments that we could make is early literacy.
mayor barbara lee
The program will ask parents and guardians to conduct four steps with their children and record their progress. It consists of teaching kids how to recognize the symbols and sounds of the alphabet and also spend time reading to them.
As families track their progress and submit it to the program, they will be eligible to receive a $50 Costco gift card, something Anderson said is used as an incentive to parents to be more engaged with their child’s learning.
Those interested will be able to participate in the new reading program by visiting 1234homereadinghelper.org.