FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 7/1/2024 – PBS North Carolina has been selected to extend the impact of Ready To Learn-funded early childhood educational resources through a partnership with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and PBS. PBS North Carolina is one of 14 public media stations to receive an 18-month contract to work with partners to expand educator, parent and caregiver trainings in their states, as well as use digital media resources and hands-on learning activities from PBS KIDS, especially in underserved areas.
“Ready To Learn resources create a connection to meaningful learning experiences through play with trusted PBS KIDS characters,” says Lauren McDowell Pyle, PBS North Carolina’s Director of Children’s Media and Education Engagement. “In collaboration with our Rootle Ambassadors, PBS North Carolina aims to expand the reach of Ready To Learn resources to learners, families and educators across the state. We’re eager for them to have a hands-on connection to each of the programs and resources within their own community.”
Through the Ready To Learn program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, CPB and PBS KIDS work with content producers, researchers and other partners to develop, distribute and evaluate multiplatform content to support the needs of America’s children. The content includes multiplatform series, short-form video, interactive games, mobile apps and hands-on activities from PBS KIDS programs such as Lyla in the Loop, Molly of Denali and Work It Out Wombats!
PBS North Carolina plans to work with local NC Smart Start agencies and libraries across the state to gain comprehensive insights into statewide initiatives and community needs, thereby maximizing the impact of Ready To Learn resources for parents and caregivers of children aged 0–8 as well as early childhood educators. One of the Ready To Learn programs that will be highlighted is the PBS North Carolina-produced podcast Jamming on the Job, where learners explore inspiring careers and strategies to support executive-function skills.
“Our primary goal is to create a sustainable and impactful project that benefits caregivers and young learners across North Carolina,” says Jewel Lowe, Engagement Program Manager at PBS North Carolina. “Key players include our Rootle Ambassadors, whose local partnerships enhance the reach and impact of our initiatives. This important collaboration will help ensure that the Ready To Learn resources are effectively integrated into community programs, ultimately supporting early childhood education and caregiver engagement across the entire state of North Carolina.”
Over the next six months, PBS North Carolina will receive $12,000 to develop an action plan. Representatives from the station will attend virtual meetings with those from other stations in the cohort to exchange ideas and learn with and from one another. Upon approval of funding for the 2024–25, PBS North Carolina will receive additional funding to implement its plans with NC Smart Start and libraries across the state.
The other stations in the cohort include: Arizona PBS, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Idaho Public Television, Ideastream Public Media (Cleveland, OH), Iowa PBS, KBTC (Tacoma, WA), Kentucky Educational Television, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Nebraska Public Media, Rhode Island PBS, South Carolina Educational Television Commission, WCTE/Central Tennessee PBS (Cookeville, TN) and WQED (Pittsburgh, PA). They join six other stations who began similar work in their states in 2022–23: PBS SoCal, California; WFSU-Tallahassee, Florida; WXXI, Rochester, New York; Austin PBS, Texas; Maryland Public Television; and PBS Wisconsin.
“Ready To Learn supports a network of local public media stations and community and statewide partners to connect families in underserved areas with quality educational resources,” said Debra Sanchez, CPB Senior Vice President, Educational Media and Learning Experiences. “These Ready To Learn resources are designed to equip the adults in children’s lives—educators, parents and caregivers—to more effectively engage young children and improve their school readiness.”
“PBS KIDS content and resources developed through the Ready To Learn Initiative have helped children, parents, caregivers and teachers support our country’s youngest learners, setting them up for success in school, work and life,” said Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager, PBS KIDS. “Through these additional partnerships, stations will be able to raise awareness to enable more families to access and use these free PBS KIDS resources.”
As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private, nonprofit corporation authorized by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,500 locally managed and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for research, technology and program development for public radio, television and related online services. For more information, visit cpb.org, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn, and subscribe for email updates.
PBS KIDS believes the world is full of possibilities, and so is every child. As the number one educational media brand for kids, PBS KIDS helps children ages 2–8 learn lessons that last a lifetime. Through media and community-based programs, PBS KIDS wants children to see themselves uniquely reflected and celebrated in lovable, diverse characters who serve as positive role models, and to explore their feelings and discover new adventures along the way. Families can stream PBS KIDS for free anytime, no subscription required. A large collection of mobile apps and pbskids.org provide accessible content that sparks kids’ curiosity. PBS KIDS and local stations across the country support the entire ecosystem in which children learn and grow—including their teachers and caregivers, parents and community—providing resources accessible anytime and anywhere. For more information, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.
The Ready To Learn Initiative is a cooperative agreement funded and managed by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. It supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted at preschool and early elementary school children and their families. Its general goal is to promote early learning and school readiness, with a particular interest in reaching low-income children. In addition to creating television and other media products, the program supports activities intended to promote national distribution of the programming, effective educational uses of the programming, community-based outreach and research on educational effectiveness.
-PBS NC-
Media Contact
Allyson Meade, Marketing & Communications
PBS North Carolina
press@pbsnc.org
The contents of this release were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. The project is funded by a Ready To Learn grant (PR/Award No. S295A200004, CFDA No. 84.295A) provided by the Department of Education to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.