The sun is out, temps are rising, and that means it's getting tougher to focus on the academic finish line.

Let I-XL help.

The online platform, trusted by millions of kids and parents, makes tackling the last months of the school year fun and rewarding.

Keep your student engaged and encouraged with celebrations, awards, and visible progress markers across social studies, science, reading, and math.

Make an impact on your child's learning. Get I-XL now.

Kid News listeners can get an exclusive 20% off an I-XL membership when they sign up today at IXL.com slash Kid News. Visit IxL.com

slash Kid News to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.

Good morning and welcome to Kid News. I'm Kim. Today is Friday, May 15th, 2026. And we begin with soccer's biggest tournament getting a

Super Bowl-style makeover. For the first time ever, the World Cup final will include a halftime show,

featuring some of music's biggest stars. BTS, Madonna, and Shakira will perform live at the

renamed New York, New Jersey Stadium on July 19th.

Coldplay singer Chris Martin, Elmo, and the rest of the Muppets made the announcement yesterday,

along with a cameo by BTS singers who Elmo happen to have on speed dial.

For fans still hoping to nab tickets to see one of this summer's matches,

prices on resale sites

have started to drop in a few host cities as hotel bookings are slower than expected. However,

even the lowest priced average resale ticket is still running around $560.

America's latest report card on learning is in, and the results show a decline in grades that began long before the pandemic.

A study by Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth researchers found that reading and math scores for U.S. students in grades three through eight began declining in 2013, meaning there's been a decade-long slump rather than

just a blip from COVID. Educators tell the New York Times that there's no single reason for the

slide, but that the timing offers a clue. The drop began with the rise in screen time, in school,

and out, and the end of no child left behind test requirements. On the positive side,

...