Washington D.C.

The Second Lady, Usha Vance, recently unveiled a Summer Reading Challenge for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Designed to combat the learning loss that often occurs during the summer months, the initiative encourages children to spend their break immersed in books rather than disconnected from learning. Children who choose to participate will read 12 books between now and September 4. Those who successfully submit their reading log will receive a certificate of completion, a personalized letter from the Second Lady, an America 250-themed bookmark, and an opportunity to win a trip to Washington, D.C. As a mother of three young children and expecting her fourth, Vance understands firsthand the importance of reading. She recently shared that reading is a Read More ›

Across the country, policymakers have long assumed that boosting K-12 funding is the surest path to better student outcomes. Yet decades of rising spending have proven otherwise. The missing ingredient is not money — it’s meaningful choice. Florida provides one of the clearest examples. In 2001, the state launched a modest tax-credit scholarship program to help low-income students access alternative educational options. Roughly 15,000 students participated in the program’s first year. Today, Florida’s school choice ecosystem serves over 500,000 students across multiple programs, giving families options tailored to their children’s needs. Critics long warned that policies empowering parents with educational options for their children harm public schools and their students. The data, however, tell a different story — the positive Read More ›