1,300

1,300-plus students Read for the Record in Eastern Oregon

Published 9:00 pm Monday, April 13, 2026

PENDLETON – More than 1,300 children recently participated in Read for the Record at the Blue Mountain Early Learning Hub in Pendleton.

Read for the Record is the world’s largest shared reading experience, engaging millions of people annually to read the same book on the same day to promote early literacy.

During the Read for the Record event, 1,326 children in Eastern Oregonian participated in the shared reading experience across school districts, preschools and community programs.

“Read for the Record turned out to be a standout example of our work to expand early literacy in Eastern Oregon,” Tiffany Copeland said in a new release from the InterMountain Education Service District.

Copeland is the early learning coordinator for the learning hub. She highlighted three schools that were the region’s top contributors to the event: Gib Olinger Elementary School in Milton-Freewater, Sherwood Elementary School in Pendleton and Stanfield Elementary School.

Read for the Record is a global event that for more than two decades has united more than 30 million participants across all 50 states and more than 30 countries.

Hub expands Reach Out and Read program

Another way the learning hub is increasing its early literacy efforts is by growing its Reach Out and Read program within medical clinics, with a goal of adding four new sites this year. This initiative is transforming well-child visits and reaching more than 10,000 families with early literacy education and resources.

The Hub also supports Every Child Ready to Read by providing training and materials that empower parents and extend literacy learning into the home for children from birth through third grade. Copeland said that strong partnerships remain central to this work, supporting early literacy initiatives with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, local school districts, Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education programs, and regional library districts, including expanded access to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

“Our Hub work is focusing on early learning and K-3 alignment as students and families transition into elementary school,” Copeland said. “With a focus on third-grade literacy and K-2 attendance, these collective efforts are helping empower families, strengthen community connections, and build a foundation for lifelong success.”

The Blue Mountain Early Learning Hub is a partnership between InterMountain ESD and Umatilla-Morrow Head Start. To learn more about the Hub, visit its website.