Landesman, Duncan, Power et al. Team Up for 'Let's Read. Let's Move' Summer Series, 8/3

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will be joined by U.S. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, U.S. ReP. James P. Moran, National Endowment for the Arts CEO Rocco Landesman, Corporation for National and Community Service CEO Patrick Corvington, and musical artist Cat Power on Tuesday, August 3 at noon for the last event of the Department of Education's Let's Read. Let's Move. summer enrichment series at the U.S. Department of Education's Lyndon Baines Johnson headquarters building in Washington, D.C. About 60 Pre-K - 3rd graders and staff from C.W. Harris Elementary School and 20 preschool children from the ED/HHS Children's Center will listen to the guests read stories and will participate in fitness activities.

"We know that for far too many children, reading achievement stalls when schoolwork stops during the summer. In fact, most low-income children can lose more than two months of reading skills progress during the summer break," said Education Secretary Arne Duncan. "The key to stopping summer learning loss is reading. If a child reads a minimum of five books between June and August, they will be on track for success next school year. We need every child to read at least five books this summer and every adult to help. We are really excited to engage children in Let's Read. Let's Move. and have been honored to work with the Corporation for National Service and the rest of the Administration on this important initiative."

Let's Read. Let's Move. is part of the Obama Administration United We Serve summer service initiative, a nationwide effort calling on all Americans to make service a part of their daily lives. As part of its role in this initiative, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has invited Cabinet members, public officials and celebrities to read books to children, promote healthy lifestyles and participate in games and fitness activities with children in pre-kindergarten through third grade. The books, refreshments, games and equipment for fitness activities have been donated by Target, which is one of the organizations answering President Obama's call to service.

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski