Topeka – Kansas Governor Sam Brownback and the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) have partnered to launch Read Kansas Read, a reading program aimed at encouraging Kansas children to read during the summer to prevent academic loss associated with a lack of educational activities during the summer.
Governor Brownback and KSDE Commissioner Dr. Diane DeBacker will be joined by State Librarian Jo Budler, and Dr. Malbert Smith with MetaMetrics, Inc to kick off the First Annual Read Kansas Read summer reading program at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library on Thursday, May 17th.
Dr. Smith will discuss the importance of summer reading and the research behind ‘summer academic loss.’
Sponsors of the summer reading program include Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, Kansas Association of Broadcasters, Kansas Board of Regents, Kansas Book Festival, Kansas State Library, Kansas State University, MetaMetrics, Inc., Pittsburg State University, University of Kansas, and Wichita State University.
Parents and children interested in participating in the program and meeting some of our state’s favorite mascots, KU’s Big Jay, KSU’s Willie the Wildcat, and PSU’s Gus the Gorilla are encouraged to attend.
The event is open to credentialed members of the media who RSVP to media@ks.gov.
