CPB, PBS and KBTC Celebrate Accomplishments in Education as
President Obama Signs Every Student Succeeds Act
Tacoma, Wa, Dec. 2015- Today President Obama signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act, the first major national education overhaul since the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001.
This law is of great interest to us at KBTC Public Television. The station has been working on these issues through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS initiatives, American Graduate and Ready To Learn, focusing on improving youth outcomes in local communities. Because of this involvement, KBTC has connections with a number of education experts in our community who have been actively involved with this work who can provide local reactions to this new, landmark education policy. KBTC producers also have great knowledge about the issues related to early education and high school graduation.
One of the new features of the ESSA is that high schools must use graduation rates as one of several measures of progress. American Graduate local partners have assembled a large body of knowledge about how to enable more students to stay in school and graduate, especially in those schools and among demographic groups with chronically high dropout rates.
There is great value in the new legislation to enable schools, especially those struggling to deploy “integrated student supports,” which could include a broad array of social services – within and outside the school, for academic and for non-academic needs – that can help at-risk students succeed.
In general, through work on American Graduate and Ready To Learn, it has been found that there is no single silver bullet to improve education outcomes for students. Rather, communities need to provide multiple high-quality supports to students – what might be called a “silver buckshot” approach.
High on the list of successful interventions is the presence of caring adults who can help students navigate the challenges they face and access to quality early education programs and resources. KBTC has been working to address these topics and issues by producing on-air segments, holding community convenings and running educational programs in high-needs areas.
More information about KBTC’s local educational efforts can be found at amgrad.kbtc.org.
About KBTC Public Television
KBTC is the South Sound’s Public Broadcasting Station. Operating out of Tacoma, Washington, KBTC is the only television broadcaster in Pierce County. KBTC is committed to telling local stories that aren’t being told anywhere else, serving underserved and diverse audiences, and connecting viewers with the people and ideas that shape western Washington. KBTC is available to 1.8 million TV households and 4.3 million viewers in western Washington, British Columbia, and Oregon. Over 900,000 viewers tune in weekly. KBTC is a viewer- supported community service of Bates Technical College.
About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,400 locally-owned and -operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.
About PBS
PBS, with its over 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 100 million people through television and over 28 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS’ premier children’s TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents’ and teachers’ most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.
About The Ready To Learn Initiative
The Ready To Learn Initiative is a cooperative agreement funded and managed by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement. It supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted to preschool and early elementary school children and their families. Its general goal is to promote early learning and school readiness, with a particular interest in reaching low-income children. In addition to creating television and other media products, the program supports activities intended to promote national distribution of the programming, effective educational uses of the programming, community-based outreach and research on educational effectiveness.
About American Graduate
American Graduate: Let's Make it Happen is public media’s long-term commitment to supporting community-based solutions to help young people success in school and life. Supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), more than 100 public television and radio stations have joined forces with over 1,400 partners across 40 states to elevate the stories of our youth and the supportive adults that help them succeed. Through American Graduate, public media, with its unique position as a trusted resource and important part of local communities, provides a critical platform to shine a light on pathways to graduation and successful student outcomes. National and local reporting, both on air and online is helping communities understand the challenges and community-driven solutions associated with the dropout crisis. Public forums, town halls, and community conversations are activating discussions between community leaders, educators, and more.
Contact: For more information, contact Cheree Apland at 253-680-7701 or by email
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