Iowa PBS announces 2024-2025 Ready for School Communities
An illustration of two students sitting at a desk with the solar system behind them. The student on the right is raising his hand.

Iowa PBS continues to invest in the state’s youngest learners, today announcing 14 new communities to benefit from the Iowa PBS Ready for School initiative. Now in its 12th year, the Ready for School program brings education specialists from the statewide network together with teachers, parents, childcare providers and community partners to implement STEM and literacy-based activities in classrooms for children 2-5 years old. Ready for School has now been deployed in 229 Iowa communities.

“Ready for School activities are designed to enhance early reading, math and science for young children. They also help children learn how to be a good friend,” said Iowa PBS Director of Educational Services Ken Harrison. “Our education staff members use visual media and technology to help spark kids’ curiosity and get them excited about learning.” 

The 2024-2025 Ready for School communities are associated with the following school districts:

AHTSW - Avoca, Hancock, Shelby, Tennant, Walnut

West Central Valley

Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center

Ottumwa

Central Decatur

Clarke

Chariton

Cardinal  

The 2024-2025 roll-out helps to further Iowa PBS’s commitment to serve families across Iowa with trusted educational content. This year’s Ready for School program will offer  multimedia content and related activities based upon the work of educational children’s programming from PBS KIDS, such as Work It Out Wombats!, Odd Squad, Molly of Denali, Peg + Cat, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Super WHY! The high-quality educational media resources, including online games, instructional materials and activities aim to help children increase their school readiness and focus on giving all children equal opportunity to succeed.