An Array of Broadcast Programs and Digital Assets Will be Created to Build Science and Literacy Skills for Five to Eight-Year-Olds Across America
Saint Paul, Minn. – December 14, 2015 – Twin Cities PBS (TPT) is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of an expected $36.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education – the largest single grant in TPT’s nearly 60-year history – to produce a new animated and live action series for children.
The series – to be aired on public television stations across America starting in 2018 – will focus on science and literacy learning for children from Kindergarten to 2nd Grade. The proposal calls for production of 40 episodes for broadcast television, along with games, interactive media, educational assets, and community outreach. It will be produced both in English and Spanish, with a special focus on underserved and low-income communities. The project and proposal for the Ready to Learn Program was developed by TPT’s Emmy® award-winning Interactive Education Producer, Joan Freese, who also works on TPT’s “SciGirls” program (seen on PBS stations across the country, and now in its third season)
“TPT has an incredibly strong 30-year history of producing the best in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education television for the PBS system,” said Jim Pagliarini, president & CEO, TPT. “This grant from the Department of Ed. is a testament to this history as well as a vote of confidence for the future, and for the power of public television to improve the lives and educational readiness of young children of all socioeconomic backgrounds. TPT is honored to play such an important role in this work.”
According to the Department of Education, “Ready to Learn” television grants “support the development of 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.”
AboutTPT
The mission of TPT is to “enrich lives and strengthen our community through the power of media.”
As one of the nation’s leading public media organizations, Twin Cities PBS (TPT) uses television, interactive media and community engagement to advance education, culture and citizenship. Over its nearly 60-year history, TPT has been recognized for its innovation and creativity with numerous awards, including Peabody awards and national and regional Emmys.
Based in St. Paul, MN, TPT is the most highly viewed public TV station in the nation, reaching over 1.7 million people each month through multiple broadcast and online channels. The organization’s particular areas of focus include: the educational readiness of children; serving the needs and unleashing the potential of America’s aging population; engaging a new generation in the power of public media; and being the preferred media partner for organizations that align with our mission to enrich lives and strengthen community.
For more information about TPT, visit our website at www.tpt.org or join us on Facebook and Twitter.
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Contact:
Elle Krause-Lyons, TPT Communications Manager
[email protected] | 651-229-1491
© Twin Cities Public Television - 2015. All rights reserved.
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