Usha Vance and Governor Sanders promote literacy in Arkansas

Second Lady Usha Vance visited Arkansas to support childhood literacy initiatives alongside Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. During the visit, Vance toured classrooms at Glenview Elementary School in North Little Rock, read to students, and participated in a roundtable with state education leaders.

Following the school visit, the two leaders met privately to discuss the state’s progress in strengthening literacy. They also hosted a reception at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion for fifty educators who received bonuses through the state’s Merit Teacher Incentive Fund. According to the governor’s office, the program has awarded more than $50 million to over 12,000 educators statewide. Data indicates that the share of third-grade students proficient in reading in Arkansas increased from 35 per cent in 2024 to 43 per cent in 2026.