For nearly 30 years, Vegas PBS has proudly delivered direct educational services to families in our valley who need them most through our flagship initiative: Ready To Learn.
This transformative program is the result of a powerful collaboration between Congress, the U.S. Department of Education, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS. Unfortunately, due to a recent executive order, these vital services are now at risk of being discontinued for the underserved families who rely on them.
Ready To Learn is built to ensure children enter kindergarten equipped with a strong foundation in literacy, science and math. It has long been a cornerstone of our mission to ignite a lifelong love of learning throughout Southern Nevada.
Through a blend of trusted PBS educational programming and age-appropriate, thematically aligned books, lessons and resources, Ready To Learn delivers hundreds of family engagement workshops each year. These sessions not only offer children free books to start or grow their home libraries but also equip parents with the tools and knowledge to support learning at home — resources they might otherwise be unable to afford.
Historically, Ready To Learn grants have supported the creation of iconic programs like Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow and Clifford the Big Red Dog. Today, this funding powers acclaimed PBS KIDS programming such as Molly of Denali, Work It Out Wombats! and Lyla in the Loop. Vegas PBS brings this content to life locally, multiplying its educational impact through hands-on family workshops and community outreach.
The results speak for themselves: both national and local research have repeatedly shown that these programs boost school readiness and foster stronger family engagement in early education.
Education is at the heart of everything we do at Vegas PBS. And while what we broadcast on-screen is essential, it’s the direct services — delivered face-to-face, book-by-book, lesson by lesson and family-by-family — that truly transform lives.
Now, more than ever, we need your support. Help us continue Ready To Learn and ensure that every child in our community has the tools, encouragement and opportunity to thrive.