(St. Louis, MO) - Following a nationwide competition, St. Louis Regional Public Media, Inc., also known as Nine PBS, has been chosen to receive over $11 million in year one of a five-year cycle through the Ready To Learn (RTL) program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education*. The grant will fund the creation of the Everyday Literacy Alliance, a national initiative designed to strengthen literacy outcomes for children ages 2 to 8 through evidence-based and accessible media, family engagement, and community learning strategies.
The initiative brings together an innovative national partnership led by Nine PBS and includes Fred Rogers Productions, Ad Astra Media, E-Line Media, Education Development Center, the Brown School Evaluation Center at Washington University in St. Louis, local public media stations, and community organizations across the country.
As part of the initiative, St. Louis will serve as the demonstration community, allowing Nine PBS and its partners to pilot, assess, and refine programs and resources before expanding them nationwide. By the end of the grant period, the initiative will reach millions of children annually across thousands of educational settings, with a focus on children in underserved, low-income, and rural and urban communities.
“This commitment from the federal government to establish the Everyday Literacy Alliance represents everything that Nine PBS has always lived: strong communities start with strong kids,” said Amy Shaw, President and CEO of Nine PBS. “Nine PBS is honored to be trusted with this important work, but we’re even more proud that the St. Louis region is at the center. Our kids deserve every chance to succeed, and St. Louis is the perfect place to build, test, and strengthen an initiative that will help families across America. Together with this extraordinary coalition of partners, we embrace this responsibility and are committed to creating lasting impact for generations to come.”
The initiative will support the national expansion and the creation of multimedia resources of Teaching in Room 9, Nine PBS’s award-winning kids’ program that features teachers and helps young learners get ready for school. By partnering with Fred Rogers Productions, producer of beloved programs like Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, the Everyday Literacy Alliance will also create and nationally distribute Fredosaurus Rex, a new multiplatform show that uses storytelling and music to help preschoolers build foundational reading skills. In addition, the Alliance will launch Read it, See it (RiSi), a free and safe interactive shared-reading platform from E-Line Media designed to promote joyful family literacy experiences while strengthening children’s conversation, comprehension, and storytelling skills.
Along with the two nationally distributed shows and the shared-reading platform, the Everyday Literacy Alliance will also develop more than 90 media products, including digital tools, resources, books, museum-based programs, and experiences designed to extend learning beyond the screen.
The need for this work has never been greater. On the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress, nearly 7 in 10 fourth graders nationwide are not reading at a proficient level. According to the Nation’s Report Card 2024 Reading State Snapshot, in parts of the St. Louis region, more than 70% of fourth graders are reading below grade level. Reading proficiently by the end of third grade is one of the strongest predictors of later academic achievement, graduation, workforce participation, and lifelong well-being.
“After nearly three decades in education, I know that helping children become strong readers is one of the most important investments a community can make,” said Chris Gaines, EdD, Executive Director of EducationPlus, which represents more than 60 school districts across the St. Louis region. “From trusted programs like Teaching in Room 9 to its deep partnerships with schools and educators, Nine PBS has consistently demonstrated that they are the right partner to answer the call to help kids across America thrive.”
This historic project is an extension of Nine PBS's work in early education across the St. Louis region. Nine PBS currently partners with more than 30 school districts and 3,000 educators in Missouri and Illinois, serving more than 54,000 kids this year alone through hands-on community learning experiences, classroom engagements, and educator professional development.
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About Nine PBS
An essential community institution since 1954, Nine PBS magnifies and deepens understanding of our community to help our region flourish. We are public media with a local heart. Supported by local donors, our multiplatform programming includes four distinct broadcast channels (Nine PBS, Nine PBS KIDS®, Nine PBS World, and Nine PBS Create), ninepbs.org, social media, the free PBS app, and more. Through educational experiences and cultural events, we connect our community and support educators, children, and families with meaningful opportunities to learn and grow together.
Nine PBS Press Contact
Leah Freeman, Vice President and Chief Communications Officer
(901) 359-1104 | lfreeman@ninepbs.org
*St. Louis Regional Public Media, Inc., also known as Nine PBS, has been chosen to receive over $11 million in year one of a five-year cycle through the Ready To Learn (RTL) program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education. This project, as outlined in the proposal, is 100 percent financed with federal funds.