KNPB has been awarded a $200,000 American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen community service grant from The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to help northern Nevada and parts of eastern California improve youth outcomes for all students from preschool through college and onto careers. The nation’s graduation rate is at 80 percent, yet significant graduation gaps still exist for students of different races, ethnicities, family incomes, and disabilities, as well as those with limited English proficiency. In Washoe County for instance, graduation rates are 73 percent, with the biggest gaps existing within special education and Native American populations.
“The vision of the Nevada Department of Education is that all Nevadans are ready for success in the 21st century,” said Nevada State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dale Erquiaga. “I’m thrilled to have a partner like KNPB for the K-12 education system in our state – this station is a great partner. This station provides assistance to children and their families and teachers, so they are prepared when they show up for school each and every day.”
Kicking off as students in northern Nevada have begun the 2014-2015 school year, KNPB will work with the northern Nevada community over the next two years to increase understanding about the challenges for at-risk youth and work with a network of community partners to help develop and illuminate long term solutions emphasizing the importance of a strong foundation in early education and the need for consistent caring adults. Stations will highlight local leaders who are helping communities increase graduation rates and the everyday heroes in a child’s life who are committed to improving education outcomes as “American Graduate Champions.” The initiative will feature new locally produced content alongside national productions and classroom resources – including PBS NewsHour’s new education desk, American Graduate Day, 180 Days: Hartsville, and the youth-driven spoken word contest RAISE UP!, along with PBS Learning Media and PBS Kids assets. KNPB is part of the national American Graduate initiative in partnership with 33 other public media stations around the country.
KNPB is honored to be a recipient of the American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen grant from The Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
“The high school drop-out issue is statewide in Nevada, aggravated by changing demographics, family structure, societal issues and changes in our state’s economic engines,” said Kurt Mische, president and CEO of KNPB. “KNPB covers a 75,000-square-mile service area that includes our urban center and, within minutes, intensely rural farm, ranch and mining areas. Through our American Graduate work, we want to learn how this initiative can best serve this extremely diverse region with its many different needs.”
KNPB looks forward to examining the impact that early education has on decreasing the drop-out rate, the various community and school district drop-out prevention programs, workforce development programs, and post high school education options available to Nevadans during the course of their American Graduate work.
“Education is at the core of public media’s mission. Through American Graduate stations’ partnerships with over 1000 local organizations, we are proud of public media’s content and on the ground engagement that has raised awareness to achieve 80 percent graduation rates nationally and helped America see the potential in every student,” said Pat Harrison, CPB president and CEO. “By strengthening our focus on solutions, starting with our youngest learners, and highlighting local leaders who are creating sustainable change, together, we can set kids – and our country – on a path for long term success.”
SOURCE: KNPB
