Vance and Sanders Push for Literacy Boost in Arkansas
Second Lady Usha Vance joins Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to promote childhood literacy and education reforms.
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Second Lady Usha Vance will join Republican Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday to promote childhood literacy and recognize educators as part of her ongoing efforts to get more American children to fall in love with reading.
Vance and Sanders will begin their visit at Glenview Elementary School in North Little Rock, where they will visit students in their classrooms. The pair will then host a roundtable with state education leaders before Vance reads aloud to a school assembly.
The second lady and governor will conclude the day with a reception at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion honoring teachers who earned bonuses through the state’s Merit Teacher Incentive Fund.
Vance’s Literacy Initiatives
Vance has made encouraging children to read a major focus of her work as second lady. Earlier this year, her Summer Reading Challenge encouraged elementary and middle school students to read 12 books during summer break. Children who completed the challenge received a personalized letter from Vance, a certificate, prizes, and entry into a raffle for a chance to visit the White House.
The initiative drew participation from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and several U.S. territories, more than doubling from the previous summer. Vance also hosts the “Storytime with the Second Lady” podcast, featuring guest readers from entertainment, sports, and other areas.
Arkansas Education Reforms
Arkansas has also pursued education reforms under Sanders’ leadership. The governor signed the LEARNS Act in 2023, raising the state’s minimum teacher salary from $36,000 to $50,000, deploying 120 literacy coaches, and establishing universal school choice.
The law also created the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund, which has awarded more than $50 million in bonuses to over 12,000 educators, according to the governor’s office. Sanders has also said student test scores have increased across grades and subjects since the law was passed.
Source: Daily Wire
