The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) have been awarded the “Ready To Learn” grant by the U.S. Department of Education, marking a significant investment in early childhood education for the years 2020-2025. This initiative is strategically designed to harness the power of children’s media and learning environments to foster crucial skills essential for future success, ensuring every child is ready to learn.
This grant cycle sees CPB and PBS collaborating with leading early learning specialists to introduce young children to a diverse spectrum of career and workforce possibilities. The core objective is to cultivate functional literacy, sharpen critical thinking, promote collaboration, and build a foundational understanding of the “world of work.” Crucially, the initiative extends its reach to empower parents, caregivers, and communities, equipping them with the resources to actively champion children’s learning and development in these vital areas, setting them firmly on a trajectory towards lifelong achievement.
The “Ready To Learn” grant is fueling the creation of a rich ecosystem of educational media, including three innovative multi-platform television series, engaging digital experiences, four dynamic short-form video series, and two captivating podcasts tailored for children and families. Furthermore, the initiative is pioneering hybrid learning experiences that seamlessly blend digital and real-world interactions, fostering intergenerational and family learning.
Local PBS stations are integral to this initiative, working in tandem with diverse community partners to establish Learning Neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are dedicated to addressing the unique early learning needs of children within underserved communities. Collaborations also extend to state-level partners, amplifying the accessibility and impact of “Ready To Learn” resources across broader regions. The Education Development Center (EDC) is rigorously evaluating the five-year initiative, ensuring its effectiveness and impact are thoroughly assessed.
Media, Learning Resources, and Community Engagement {#mediaLearning2025}
The “Ready To Learn” initiative is bringing to life a suite of engaging media designed to make learning fun and effective:
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Work It Out Wombats!: This animated series, created for children aged 3-6 by GBH Kids and Pipeline Studios, introduces young learners to computational thinking. Following marsupial siblings, the show cleverly demonstrates computer science principles through engaging narratives and problem-solving scenarios, getting them ready to learn about technology and logical thinking.
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Lyla in the Loop: Targeting children aged 4-8, this multiplatform animated series from Mighty Picnic and Pipeline Studios centers on the energetic 7-year-old Lyla. Lyla collaborates with friends to tackle everyday challenges, skillfully employing creative and strategic problem-solving and critical thinking – skills that make children ready to learn and adapt in various situations.
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Molly of Denali: The Big Gathering: This short-form video series and interactive game extends the beloved “Molly of Denali” universe. Molly and her friends prepare for a convention inspired by the Alaska Federation of Natives convention, engaging in activities that necessitate the use and creation of functional texts. This prepares children to be ready to learn from and create informational content.
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What Can You Become: This short-form video series directly addresses career readiness skills for children. It effectively demonstrates how children’s existing interests and hobbies can naturally evolve into future career paths and opportunities, making them ready to learn about different professions and career possibilities.
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Tiny Time Travel: This live-action short series follows a young inventor and his best friend as they use a time machine to navigate and resolve misunderstandings and neighborhood issues. The series emphasizes social language skills, crucial for children to be ready to learn and interact effectively with others.
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Jamming on the Job: This multigenerational podcast from PBS North Carolina features the musical duo 123 Andrés. They tour the country, meeting individuals in diverse professions and composing original songs about these careers with the help of their magical BoomBox. This engaging format makes children ready to learn about the world of work through music and storytelling.
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The Plate Show: This comedy podcast from WNET, designed for children aged 6-9 and their families, features Spoonie, a talking spoon, and her sidekick Tongs. Together, they explore global cultures and cuisines, developing social competencies in new environments – a vital skill for navigating the modern world of work and being ready to learn in diverse settings.
Past Success: 2015-2020 – Building a Foundation for Future Learning {#learnmore2025}
The preceding “Ready To Learn” grant cycle (2015-2020) laid a robust foundation, focusing on “Content, Community, and Collaboration: Advancing Children’s Learning Through Personalized Media Experiences.” CPB and PBS again partnered with early learning experts to develop science and literacy-based television series, videos, games, mobile apps, and community engagement resources, all geared towards ensuring children are ready to learn.
This cycle funded beloved PBS KIDS series such as The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! and Ready Jet Go!, alongside innovative resources like a science-focused version of the PBS KIDS for Parents Play & Learn app and short-form videos from The Ruff Ruffman Show. Notably, PBS KIDS launched two key “Ready To Learn” series during this period: Molly of Denali, emphasizing informational text literacy, and Elinor Wonders Why, fostering scientific inquiry.
CPB and PBS strategically utilized this content to develop personalized and adaptive learning experiences for children, coupled with essential support systems for parents, caregivers, and educators. Local PBS stations and community partners across the nation effectively deployed these resources in communities with the greatest need, making sure these children were ready to learn and succeed.
Independent evaluations consistently affirmed the project’s success, demonstrating that children effectively acquired targeted knowledge and skills through the presented content. Data from the CPB-PBS Ready To Learn Initiative indicated impressive reach, with 15 million children engaging with RTL-funded science television content and 19 million utilizing STEM games and mobile apps, showcasing the program’s significant impact in preparing children to be ready to learn. The “Ready To Learn Initiative: Improving Children’s Science and Literacy Learning Through the Power of Public Media” provides a comprehensive summary of the 2015-2020 initiative’s accomplishments. Further details, content links, and research reports are readily available on PBS LearningMedia.
Media, Learning Resources and Engagement {#mediaLearning}
The 2015-2020 “Ready To Learn” grant directly supported the creation of two groundbreaking multiplatform series, both designed to make children ready to learn and explore:
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Molly of Denali: Produced by WGBH Boston in collaboration with Atomic Cartoons, Molly of Denali introduces viewers to Molly Mabray, a resourceful 10-year-old Alaska Native girl. The series, grounded in informational text, highlights family, intergenerational relationships, and Alaska Native values. “Ready To Learn” funding enabled 38 half-hour episodes, a one-hour special, a digital app, online games, and hands-on resources for children aged 4-8, families, and educators, all aimed at ensuring children are ready to learn and appreciate diverse cultures and perspectives.
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Elinor Wonders Why: Created by Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson and produced with Pipeline Studios, Elinor Wonders Why premiered on PBS KIDS in September 2020. Elinor, a curious bunny, introduces children aged 3-5 to science, nature, and community through her adventures. “Ready To Learn” supported 40 half-hour episodes, digital games, and hands-on resources for kids, families, and educators, fostering a sense of wonder and making children ready to learn about the world around them.
The 2015-2020 grant also expanded content and resources for existing PBS KIDS properties, ensuring a continued wealth of materials to help children stay ready to learn. Additional resources, including professional development tools and out-of-school learning materials, can be found on PBS LearningMedia.
Outcomes That Matter {#matters}
Evaluations conducted by EDC and SRI International consistently demonstrate the positive impact of the “Ready To Learn” initiative. These studies reveal significant gains not only for children but also for their families, educators, and public media station communities, reinforcing the critical role of initiatives like “Ready To Learn” in ensuring every child is truly ready to learn and thrive.
