WFSU was named a PBS KIDS Raising Readers station in 2007, a literacy initiative designed to harness the power of public media content and tools to teach literacy skills to children ages 2 to 8, especially those from low income families. The effort, which is funded as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Ready To Learn grant, encourages parents and caregivers to take actions that will help children acquire critical reading skills. Only 20 stations were selected across the United States and in January 2008, PBS KIDS Raising Readers rolled out in select areas nationwide, here in the Tallahassee area we have been targeting 5 zip codes: 32310, 32301, 32304 and in Gadsden County 32332 and 32351.

Now that we are 2 years into this 3-year grant cycle, we have lots of successes to share, we have sponsored 5 Super Why Summer Reading Camps at Bond Elementary, Sabal Palm Elementary and Oak Ridge Elementary, click on the Super Why Reading Camps tab to see some great pictures – more will happen in 2010! We have brought the Electric Company Curriculum to the Boys & Girls Clubs, Oak Ridge Afterschool and many more classroom teachers are helping their students feel the power of the Electric Company by utilizing the program and corresponding materials and interactive games into their schools. Martha Speaks Reading Buddies was a huge hit at St. John Elementary School and Bond Elementary School and this spring, Martha Buddies will happen at Sabal Palm Elementary, St. John and Gretna Elementary Schools in Gadsden County. PBS Kids Raising Readers Library Corners are flourishing at both the Leon County and the Gadsden County Main Branch Libraries and several more will be set up at local elementary schools. In addition to WFSU’s commitment within these targeted schools, we have teamed up with the City of Tallahassee’s initiative “A Community that Reads” through this partnership we have reached thousands of students in their homes, at community events, literacy kick-offs and the Back to School Event.

The WFSU/PBS KIDS Raising Readers campaign has included partnerships with Comcast and Cumulus Radio that continues to include on-air spots that feature ways for parents to help build their kids’ reading skills through everyday activities, along with parent, caregiver and educator-focused materials, such as DVDs, literacy tips, and activity books.

A local facet of this campaign has been the involvement of folks and businesses in our targeted zip code communities, especially the Walker Ford Community Center, the Character Center, Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Wachovia Wells Fargo – it is our great hope that businesses all around our students and their families will continue to see that “learning happens, anytime, anywhere!