First Gentleman Chuck Franco Signs On As Scholastic Reading Ambassador, Urges Kids To Read Over The Summer
 
500 Books to be Donated for New Mexico Students
 
SANTA FE - First Gentleman Chuck Franco has signed on as a Reading Ambassador for Scholastic's Sixth Annual Summer Challenge and is urging New Mexico students to read over the summer. The Summer Challenge is a nationwide effort to get kids reading over the summer months so they maintain their reading skills even while out of school. Mr. Franco is joining governors' spouses from across the country to serve as Reading Ambassadors and encourage all children to read this summer.
 
“Keeping kids reading over the summer is just as important as developing their skills during the school year,” said Mr. Franco. “We already know that kids who have trouble reading are significantly less likely to graduate from high school. By encouraging them to read while they're out of school, we can prevent the ‘summer slide' and make sure they are prepared to learn when they head back to the classroom at the end of the summer. It's an honor to serve as New Mexico's Reading Ambassador for the Annual Summer Challenge and I hope that parents and teachers across the state will join me in stressing the importance of summer reading.”
 
The ‘summer slide,' or loss of reading skills during the summer months, presents a serious challenge to both students and teachers. Studies show that skill losses over the summer are cumulative, creating a wider gap each year between more proficient and less proficient students. Additionally, teachers typically spend between four and six weeks each school year re-teaching material that students have forgotten over the summer.
 
As part of the Summer Challenge, Scholastic will donate 500 books to New Mexico elementary school students to be distributed when Mr. Franco or Governor Martinez read to students in New Mexico classrooms. Students can register for the Scholastic Summer Challenge and log their reading minutes online at www.scholastic.com/summer. The Scholastic Summer Challenge website also provides free book lists and additional resources for parents to encourage their kids to read this summer.