Academics & Instruction

At Salem-Keizer Public Schools, our number one goal is to ensure all students master grade-level academic standards and attain the behavioral and social-emotional skills needed to thrive.

Instructional Core

Excellence in the Instructional Core is defined by the following beliefs and values:

• All learning takes place in deep relationships between teachers and students.
• All students deserve a safe, predictable, and welcoming environment.
• Teachers and students collaborate to create communities where all cultures, interests, and identities are honored.
• All students have full access to the level of rigor identified by the standard.
• Instruction is standards-based, authentic and rigorous.
• Teachers design culturally relevant, engaging instruction that meets the interests and needs of all learners.
• Teachers monitor and adjust instruction based on evidence of student learning.
• Students understand the target, know what to do to get there, and how to extend their learning.
• The person doing the work is doing the learning.

Instructional Practices

In order to achieve the above vision and values for instruction, staff in Salem-Keizer commit to the following K-12 Instructional Practices:

• Intentional planning using culturally responsive, evidence-based strategies to support all learners featuring multiple means to access, interact with, and demonstrate learning of rigorous content
• Authentic, culturally responsive, and standards-based student tasks and assessments.
• Clear learning progressions with ongoing monitoring and targeted feedback by teachers and students.
• Flexible adjustment of instruction to scaffold and extend for all learners
• Explicit literacy and language development
• Development of critical thinkers through inquiry and collaboration
• Effective and positive classroom routines and systems
• Inclusive, culturally relevant, and trauma-informed practices
• Explicit instruction of social-emotional competencies and skills

Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (MTSS)

We do our best to anticipate students’ needs in academics, behavior, and social-emotional skills, and prepare lessons that best support their learning. We use a variety of effective teaching practices to ensure that all students are able to learn at their appropriate grade level.

Because all students’ experiences and development are different, however, they sometimes need additional support to help them be successful. To make sure they get that additional help, Salem-Keizer uses a Multi-Tiered System of Supports framework to address students’ needs. This is a research-based model that meets students where they are and builds on their strengths to improve learning, behavior, and/or social emotional needs.

Every student qualifies for this support, and school teams meet regularly to analyze data and decide how they can best meet the needs of their students. This may mean, for example, that students receive additional math or reading instruction, they have a peer or adult tutor that works with them, they are part of a friendship circle, or schools/teachers provide extra support within a student’s existing schedule. Whatever the case, we are doing everything we can to provide the right support at the right time for each student.

Districtwide Key Performance Indicators

We measure the success and progress of our schools and district by using Key Performance Indicators. Our Key Performance Indicators were selected to demonstrate progress towards our goal that all students master grade-level academic standards and attain the behavioral and social-emotional skills needed to thrive.

Salem-Keizer Public Schools has 42 kindergarten through fifth-grade elementary schools and two charter schools. These schools serve approximately 17,000 students.

Elementary Instruction – Literacy

Reading lays the groundwork for every subject a child will study in school. Salem-Keizer is committed to ensuring that every student is able to read at grade level by third grade. Giving young readers the best start possible will provide a strong foundation for their entire educational careers. Literacy instruction is a critical part of every elementary student’s growth. For this reason, principals and teachers structure the school day so that literacy instruction is not interrupted.

State Standards

The elementary school core curriculum focuses on the basics of reading, speaking, listening, language, writing, English language development, math, science, social studies, and health. Our elementary schools also provide instruction in socio-emotional learning, music and physical education. The scope and sequence for these content areas is based on the state standards.

Learn More about Oregon State Standards

• Literacy Standards
• Math Standards
• Science Standards
• Social Science Standards
• Health Standards
• English Language Development Standards
• CASEL Socio-emotional Learning Competencies

Our Curriculum

Salem-Keizer's elementary schools use the following materials as the foundation for our core instruction:

• Language Arts: ReadyGen
• Math: ReadyMathematics
• Health: The Great Body Shop
• Science: Mystery Science
• SEL: Sanford Harmony, Second Steps, and Toolbox

ReadyGen Overview

ReadyGEN is an integrated and well-balanced approach to reading and writing instruction for grades K-6.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (MTSS)

Our elementary schools offer the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to establish positive school cultures. This is a framework that schools can tailor to meet the needs of their communities to help create safe, positive and caring school cultures.

Elementary Programs

Families have program options for education within our district. Salem-Keizer schools include several programs at the elementary level.

• EDGE

Our Enhanced Digital and Guided Education (EDGE program) provides students with an online alternative to in-person classroom learning. 

• International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme

Visit Valley Inquiry Charter School’s IB World program (application and lottery system for enrollment).

• Optimum Learning Environments (OLE) Charter School

 Environment, Civics and Technology Domains (application and lottery system for enrollment).

• Spanish Language Dual Immersion Program

Grant Community School, Harritt Elementary School and Myers Elementary School host Dual Language Programs.