December 9, 2025 — Dallas, Texas — Recognizing that strong reading skills are essential to human capital development, opening the door for today’s students to thrive, compete, innovate, and succeed, Governor Jenniffer González-Colón joined fellow governors at the invitation of former President George W. Bush to participate in the Governor’s Reading Forum.

The Forum opened with a private meeting between the governors, former President George W. Bush, and former First Lady Laura Bush. Afternoon sessions focused on critical literacy topics, including The Power of Governors to Lead on Reading, moderated by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush; Leading on Literacy to Strengthen State Economies; and Literacy as a Federal Priority, among others. Moderators included officials from the U.S. Department of Education, current and former governors, members of bipartisan public policy centers, Harvard University faculty, and subject-matter experts.

“For Puerto Rico, improving reading and literacy is not simply an educational aspiration; it is essential for workforce preparation, economic growth, and ensuring a competitive future. Literacy is the gateway to opportunity. Since taking office in January, I have been committed to strengthening our schools and expanding bilingual education so that Puerto Rico’s children develop strong proficiency in both Spanish and English, skills that open doors nationally and internationally. For us, bilingualism is a strategic asset,” the Governor stated.

González-Colón shared insights from her first year in office, during which her administration focused on stabilizing the education system, supporting school leaders, and addressing operational and structural challenges that directly affect school readiness and student learning, such as staffing, resources, maintenance, transparency, and access to data. Quiero mi Escuela, an innovative and collaborative initiative designed to bring public officials into schools and ensure they are ready for the academic year, contributed to the most successful school reopening in decades.

She also highlighted the implementation of the Initiative for Deregulation and Efficient Administration (IDEA), aimed at reducing bureaucracy, modernizing operations, and improving services across all government agencies, including the Department of Education. At the same time, efforts were made to stabilize staffing and support teachers.

“Parents must be partners in this effort. Families deserve transparency, accountability, and the freedom to participate in their children’s learning. Schools should welcome parents, not treat them as outsiders. Rebuilding our economy requires a skilled workforce with strong reading, math, and critical-thinking abilities,” the Governor added.

During his presidency, George W. Bush signed the bipartisan No Child Left Behind Act to expand opportunities for all children and ensure they receive the quality education they deserve.

As First Lady, Laura Bush led initiatives to promote literacy, a mission she continues today through the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries, which provides funding to high-need schools to expand, update, and diversify their library collections and encourage students to develop a love of reading and learning.

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