The U.S. Department of Education abruptly ended its five-year, $112 million Ready to Learn grant to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting—a critical funding stream that directly supported WQED’s early childhood education programs across western Pennsylvania.
For more than a decade, Ready to Learn grants have powered WQED’s Education team. The funds helped us create free, accessible programs reaching children wherever they learn, live, and play. Ready to Learn funding has helped us build vital bridges between families, educators, and dozens of schools, libraries, and community partners—reaching hundreds of thousands of children across western Pennsylvania.
For 30 years, Ready to Learn has also funded award-winning PBS KIDS programs like Sesame Street, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Molly of Denali, Work It Out Wombats!, and Lyla in the Loop.
That funding is gone. But our commitment is not.
WQED was the nation’s first community-owned public television station. We pioneered tele-education in 1954 as “The School of the Air.” Today, our Learning Neighborhoods continue that legacy—fueling curiosity, closing learning gaps, and lifting up every child, regardless of zip code.
“Whether it’s through a math mentorship program that builds confidence and curiosity, a community garden that brings learning to life through science and collaboration, or a World of Work marketplace that sparks career ambitions—our work helps tens of thousands of children and caregivers grow together through joyful, meaningful experiences,” says Cathy Cook, WQED’s Managing Director for Education.
Together, we are all facing growing threats to federal funding for education, public broadcasting, and the arts. But we are not powerless—and neither are you. In this moment of uncertainty, your support matters more than ever.
Here’s how you can help right now:
- Raise your voice—remind friends, neighbors, and your elected officials what public media means to you. Visit ProtectMyPublicMedia.org to learn more.
- Become a monthly donor and sustain WQED’s educational activities year-round.
- Make a gift in honor of an educator, librarian, or mentor who shaped your life.
- Ask your employer to consider charitable gifts supporting our education work. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania offers generous tax credits. Write to sponsor (at) wqed.org to learn more.
No gift can possibly replace our federal funding. But together, we can keep learning alive in every neighborhood!
WQED is deeply grateful for ongoing support from local organizations who fund our Education team’s work. These include: Achieva, ATI, Ansys, Center for Community Resources, Clearview Federal Credit Union, Columbia Gas, Dollar Bank, the Engineers’ Society of Western PA, EQT Foundation, Fred Rogers Productions, Gateway Engineers, the Heinz Endowments, Howmet Aerospace Foundation, Huntington National Bank, the Marcus L. Ruscitto Charitable Foundation, Mastech Digital, MSA North America, Nextier Bank, Ninja Transfers, Nonprofit Development Corporation, Pennsylvania Department of Education, PNC Grow up Great, Posner Foundation, PPG Foundation, Remake Learning, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Robert W. Baird & Co., Rush Order Tees, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and Williams Coulson. Thank you!