Save the Children Launches 'Learn Without Limits' to Close Rural Literacy Gaps, Help Every Child Read by Grade Three

To celebrate the launch of Learn Without Limits, Save the Children and partners unveiled children's book vending machines in five rural communities across California, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas and Washington, helping put free books directly into children's hands – along with the power to choose and own them.

National Movement Kicks off on International Literacy Day with Book Vending Machine Installations in Five Rural Communities and Nationwide Call to Expand Learning Resources for Rural Children

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (Sept. 8, 2026) — As the world marks International Literacy Day, new data from Save the Children shows rural America's kids are reading half a grade level behind their non-rural peers in grades three through eight. To help close the gap, the organization today launched Learn Without Limits – a national movement working to ensure every child can read by grade three and build the skills needed for academic and lifelong success.  

To celebrate the launch, Save the Children and partners unveiled children's book vending machines in five rural communities across California, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas and Washington, helping put free books directly into children's hands – along with the power to choose and own them – in places where access to books and literacy resources are limited. The organization also launched Learn Without Limits' first National Day of Action & Giving, encouraging people across the country to spend time reading with a child, be a reading role model for kids, and support efforts to bring books, education opportunities and resources to children across rural America.

"Every child deserves the opportunity to discover the joy of reading, develop confidence in the classroom and pursue their dreams, no matter where they live," said Mary McInerney, head of Save the Children's U.S. programs. "For more than 90 years, Save the Children has partnered with rural communities across America because we know potential is everywhere, but opportunity is not always available. Learn Without Limits is an invitation for everyone to help change that by investing in children early, surrounding them with the tools they need to succeed, and helping ensure every child has the chance to build a brighter future. Because when a child learns to read, their future is without limits."

Learn Without Limits responds to the persistent disparities children are facing across rural America, as highlighted by findings in Save the Children's first-of-its kind database, the Rural Child Well-being Dashboards, and accompanying report, The State of Childhood in Rural America. The research shows:

• Rural children are reading half a grade-level behind their non-rural peers in grades three through eight, on average, across the 39 states with available data.
• In seven states – Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia – rural students are a full grade level behind or more in reading in those same elementary and middle school grades.
• Rural kids are 23% more likely to live in poverty than their non-rural peers, and more likely to experience food insecurity in 43 states.
• Most rural children do not have access to a single child-care center within a 30-minute drive, limiting options to build a solid learning foundation before kindergarten.

"Children who develop strong reading skills early are far more likely to succeed throughout school and later in life," said McInerney. "Yet for too many children in rural America, the path to becoming a confident reader is shaped by barriers that begin long before they enter a classroom. Learn Without Limits is about removing those obstacles to ensure every child has the chance to build the skills, confidence and curiosity they need to become successful readers and lifelong learners."

Learn Without Limits is generously supported by several partners that share Save the Children's commitment to expanding opportunity for rural children, including the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, Mattel, Scholastic, Penguin Random House, The Amy Krouse Rosenthal Foundation, Highlights for Children, IKEA U.S., Sunrays, Thrive Market, TOMS Shoes and Warner Bros. Discovery.  

"Scholastic and Save the Children have spent decades of partnership working together to support children's literacy and wellbeing. Through access to books in a community-focused and engaging way, Learn Without Limits is an exciting new chapter of our work together," shared Dorothy Weintraub, Vice President, Literacy Initiatives, Scholastic Education.

Actress Maya Hawke is also joining the movement, lending her voice to a new Learn Without Limits PSA with a powerful message: "All children are born to dream big, but not every kid has a clear path forward," she says in the video. "The future is theirs. Let’s help them reach it."  

As part of today's Learn Without Limits National Day of Action & Giving, Save the Children is encouraging people across the country to take one or more of three simple actions: READ, SHARE and GIVE.

• READ: Spend 10 minutes reading with a child.
• SHARE: Gift your favorite book, support a local teacher, and be a reading role model for kids.

• GIVE: Help more children access the resources and opportunities they need to learn and thrive. 

  Since 1932, Save the Children has worked together with rural communities across America to help close opportunity gaps for kids. Today, it partners with more than 250 of the country's most resource-challenged rural communities, supporting children from birth through elementary school with quality early childhood education, literacy and math programs, educator training and food security initiatives.

This past year alone, Save the Children reached over 720,000 children nationally with early education and at-home learning support. Learn Without Limits will build on that work by helping more rural children access the books, early learning resources, nutritious food and caring educators they need to learn and thrive.

To learn more about Learn Without Limits and how to help expand opportunities for rural America's kids, visit SavetheChildren.org/LearnWithoutLimits.

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