Garland ISD is helping students turn the page on summer boredom with the return of its 2026 Summer Reading Challenge.

Visit the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge website.

Running May 24 through Aug. 8, the districtwide initiative encourages students to "catch the reading wave" by exploring books, completing weekly activities, and building strong reading habits during the summer break. Families can access activities and resources through the district's summer reading website, designed to keep learning going long after the school year ends.

This year, students can also log their reading through Beanstack, the district's online reading platform, where participants can track minutes, earn badges, and monitor their progress. Garland ISD's districtwide goal is to reach 500,000 reading minutes by the end of the challenge.

Students can log minutes by reading books or magazines or listening to stories. Every logged minute supports both campus and district reading goals while encouraging students to stay connected to literacy during the summer months.

Summer kickoff celebrations across Garland, Sachse, and Rowlett will help launch the season with community events focused on literacy, creativity, and family fun.

Sachse will kick things off at 10 a.m. Friday, May 29, with the Sachse Summer Reading Kick-Off Party. Attendees can enjoy food from the Credit Union of Texas Community Grill, snow cones, outdoor games, and live performers. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic baskets to enjoy the festivities.

Garland's Summer Reading Kick-Off Party will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 30, at Garland Central Library. Hosted in partnership with Garland Public Libraries, the event will feature dinosaur-themed crafts and games, a bounce house, balloon artists, face painters, music, photo opportunities, and a cake walk. Visitors can also pick up activity trackers for a free popsicle, receive free books while supplies last courtesy of Altrusa, and learn more about Garland ISD's free summer meals program. Chef Kevin Jenkins from GISD Student Nutrition Services will host mobile kitchen demonstrations at 10 and 11 a.m. featuring kid-friendly snack ideas.

Rowlett's Summer Reading Kick-Off begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 6. The event will include on-site program registration and reading log pickup, Perot Museum STEAM stations, face painting, lawn games, sidewalk chalk activities, and complimentary hamburgers, chips, and water.

The challenge supports literacy growth while helping students avoid the "summer slide," a common form of learning loss that can occur during extended school breaks. Summer reading helps students maintain comprehension skills, strengthen vocabulary, and stay prepared for the upcoming school year.

Weekly themed activities will be posted online throughout the summer, and participants can also complete reading bingo sheets available in multiple languages.

To help students access books all summer long, Garland ISD's Reading with Rodney Mobile Library will make regular stops at recreation centers across Garland, including Audubon, Fields, and Holford, through July 22. Students can check out books and discover new titles during each visit.

Families are also encouraged to visit the Garland Public Library, Rowlett Public Library, and Sachse Public Library for additional summer reading programs and resources.

The Summer Reading Challenge is part of Garland ISD's continued effort to support learning beyond the classroom and help students stay connected to literacy, creativity, and discovery all summer long.

Families can explore activities, access resources, and begin logging reading minutes through Beanstack and the GISD Summer Reading 2026 website.