Second Lady Usha Vance has officially opened her second annual Summer Reading Challenge, aiming to combat the traditional drop-off in student learning during the summer months.
The nationwide program, which kicks off today and runs through September 4, 2026, focuses on students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
To participate, children must download a reading log online and submit it after finishing 12 books. Everyone who finishes will get a personalized certificate, a 250th American anniversary-themed bookmark, a prize, and an entry into a raffle for a trip to the White House.
The initiative is part of Vance’s ongoing campaign to address low reading scores across the United States. Federal data from 2024 revealed that just 31 percent of fourth graders and 30 percent of eighth graders met or exceeded reading proficiency standards. This baseline often deteriorates further during summer vacation, when students typically lose an average of two to three months of the reading skills they built during the school year.
“I’m thrilled to bring back my Summer Reading Challenge for another year! The challenge will help kids fall in love with reading outside the classroom and stave off summer learning loss. Prizes and friendly competition will add to the fun. I’m so thankful to our partners, including the parents who are helping us make this a summer full of reading for kids across the country,” Vance said in a statement.
Last year’s version of the program operated as a pilot project, drawing over 20,000 young readers across all 50 states and several territories. This year, the White House has scaled up the initiative by adding more partner organizations, increasing the available prizes, and introducing a live, state-by-state online leaderboard to track progress.
Families can access the materials and registration information at wh.gov/read.
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