Iowa PBS announces 2025-2026 Ready for School Communities
A woman and three kids outdoors near rock and a butterfly.

Now in its 13th year, the Iowa PBS Ready for School program brings education specialists from the statewide public television network together with teachers, parents, childcare providers and community partners to implement STEM and literacy-based activities for children 2-5 years old. Iowa PBS continues to invest in the state’s youngest learners by today announcing six new communities to benefit from the Ready for School initiative. Ready for School has now been deployed in 235 Iowa communities.

“Our education staff members use visual media and technology to help spark kids’ curiosity and get them excited about learning,” said Iowa PBS Director of Educational Services Ken Harrison. “Ready for School activities are designed to enhance early reading, math and science for young children. We are truly thankful to get to work in Iowa communities, supporting families, teachers and Iowa’s children.”

The 2025-2026 Ready for School communities are associated with the following school districts:

  • Columbus Community School District

  • Iowa City Community School District

  • Van Buren County Community School District

  • Wapello Community Schools

  • West Harrison Community School District

  • Whiting Community School

The 2025-2026 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 include online games, instructional materials and activities to help children increase their school readiness. The State of Iowa funded initiative helps to further Iowa PBS’s commitment to serve families across Iowa with trusted educational content and offer all children an equal opportunity to succeed in school and in life.