Department of Education's summer reading program encourages adults to read with a child every day during summer vacation.

WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 27 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige and Mrs. Lynne Cheney today visited a local library to kick off the Department of Education's summer reading campaign. "No Such Thing as a Vacation from Reading" encourages adults to read with children each day to prevent summer fall-off -- the documented loss of reading skills that can take place when children do not practice through the extended vacation from school.

Paige and Cheney toured the Wheaton Regional Library in Wheaton, Md., including stops at the reading stations that are part of the library's summer reading program. They visited with children participating in the library's program, and Mrs. Cheney read "Ted," by Tony DiTerlizzi, as part of the groups' daily reading activities.

"Research shows that children, especially disadvantaged children who are not exposed to reading at home, learn new skills during the school year and then forget them over the summer months," Paige said. "One study shows that children can lose up to 25 percent of their reading and math skills during the summer. This fall-off can be prevented, and we are here today to encourage families to read with their children during the summer months - every day."

"I congratulate Secretary Paige for launching this summer reading campaign," said Mrs. Cheney, an author and advocate for education reform. "It has just the right spirit to motivate children between grades. It keeps their tools sharp. It keeps their minds active. With a book, on any day, in any season, a special kind of adventure is always within reach."

"No Such Thing as a Vacation from Reading" is supported by the Department of Education's Partnership for Family Involvement in Education. The partnership was formed to involve businesses, community organizations, faith-based organizations, foundations, schools and other groups in building and supporting strong relationships between children and adults.

President Bush believes reading is the foundation of all learning, and his $5 billion "Reading First" program is part of the No Child Left Behind education reform plan that has been passed by the House and Senate. "Reading First" and "Early Reading First" are programs designed to make certain that every American child can read by third grade.

For additional information regarding the campaign and summer reading activities, call the U.S. Department of Education at 1-800-USA-LEARN or visit http://www.ed.gov/.