Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett joined Education Secretary Arne Duncan for the Department of Education’s summer reading initiative, “Read to the Top!”

Secretary Salazar read “Our Earth” to approximately 120 students in grades K-5 from Annandale Terrace, Parklawn and Glen Forest Elementary schools—all representing Fairfax County, Va., public schools.

The Department of Education has partnered with community organizations nationwide to combat summer reading loss in response to President Obama’s national volunteer campaign, “United We Serve.” It challenges all Americans to engage in sustained, meaningful service to meet growing social needs resulting from the economic downturn.