News
October 8, 2008
harkin announces $120,000 for iowa public television
Washington D.C. – Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that Iowa Public Television in Johnston has been awarded $120,000 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to start a childhood literacy program. The “Ready To Learn” outreach grant program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, is to harness the power of public television’s children’s programming to engage and teach high-poverty children between the ages of 2 and 8 how to read. In 2005, CPB, in partnership with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), was awarded a five-year contract by the Department to develop quality children’s programming, including Martha Speaks, SUPER WHY!, the new Electric Company, and digital content steeped in scientifically-based reading research to measurably increase childhood literacy among the target demographic. Congress provided $23.8 million for the program in Fiscal Year 2008. Harkin is the Chairman of the Senate panel that funds the CPB.
“The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is the benchmark for quality educational programs. For over 40 years, parents have trusted shows like Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood to give their children the skills they need for life,” Harkin said. “With this funding, local CPB stations like Iowa Public Television will be able to expand this skill base and raise childhood literacy across the state.”
Over 1,200 households will be impacted by this new service in the Johnston area. The CBP is a 41 year old private, non-profit, corporation intended to tie the federal government’s investments with public broadcasting.
