JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi Public Broadcasting is one of 11 PBS stations chosen to receive a Ready To Learn grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS. MPB will use the funds to promote early learning and school readiness with a particular focus on reaching low-income children in Mississippi.
“Early childhood education is a good investment. It has the potential to help put at-risk children on a path of lifelong learning and achievement,” said U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) “I am pleased that Mississippi Public Broadcasting will be a partner in these efforts, and continue to be a valuable educational and cultural resource for our state.
A key piece of the grant will provide resources for MPB to strengthen its community-based network of strategic partners devoted to promoting early learning among at-risk-kids. MPB and its partners have long provided children with educational resources in the environments where they learn and play. Also, parents, caregivers and educators receive support to actively advocate for their children’s education.
A 2013 survey from Mississippi State University’s Social Science Research Center indicates that 40 percent of kids arrive unprepared to begin kindergarten. MPB and PBS are powerful partners in ensuring access to educational resources. The Nielsen Company confirms that PBS stations reach more children ages 2-8 and more children in low income homes than any other children’s TV network.
“This grant helps MPB continue to serve children, parents and educators with high-quality learning content and services to set them on the path for a successful future,” said Maggie Stevenson, MPB Deputy Executive Director for Education. “We are honored to be part of CPB and PBS’ Ready To Learn initiative.”
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About MPB
Mississippi Public Broadcasting provides instructional and public affairs programming to Mississippians through its statewide television and radio network. MPB enhances the work of educators, students, parents and learners of all ages by providing informative programming and educational resources. MPB’s locally-produced programming focuses on the people, resources and attractions that reflect Mississippi’s unique culture and diverse heritage. Children’s television programs constitute a major portion of the daytime and weekend morning schedules. MPB provides a valuable resource to Mississippians in disseminating information as part of the state’s emergency preparedness and response system. Since 1970, MPB has won over 400 national, regional and statewide awards, including Emmy®, Edward R. Murrow and Parents’ Choice® Awards. For more information on MPB, its programs, mission or educational resources, please visit www.mpbonline.org.
About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,400 locally-owned and -operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.
About PBS
PBS, with its over 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 100 million people through television and over 28 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS’ premier children’s TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents’ and teachers’ most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.
About The Ready To Learn Initiative
The Ready To Learn Initiative is a cooperative agreement funded and managed by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement. It supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted to 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.
The contents of this release were developed under a grant from the 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. [PR/Award No. U295A100025, CFDA No. 84.295A]
