Pennsylvania's Literacy Crisis Has a Blind Spot
While advocates demand $100 million for new literacy programs, they're ignoring the proven partner that reaches 97% of households and is fighting for survival in Washington
Note: This continues my ongoing coverage of threats to public media's educational mission. While previous pieces focused on federal funding cuts, this examines how those same cuts undermine state-level education priorities.
Pennsylvania has a literacy problem. Only about one-third of Philadelphia's third-graders read at grade level, and advocates are rightfully demanding action. But there's a glaring omission in the conversation: the state's most successful literacy partner is fighting for survival in Washington.
In a recent guest commentary in the Philadelphia Citizen, Rachael Garnick, who leads the Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition—an "initiative of Teach Plus PA advocating for comprehensive, evidence-based literacy policies"—wrote:
"Low literacy is costing PA an estimated $113 billion every year in lost earnings, economic productivity, and increased spending on health care, criminal justice and social services."
She writes of bipartisan bills before the PA legislature that "would establish a comprehensive, statewide early literacy program based on the science of reading. If passed, properly funded, and effectively implemented, these bills would equip educators with the high-quality training, literacy coaches, and materials needed to deliver evidence-based instruction."
But she acknowledges that this problem will take more than just policy.
"Backed by over 50 cross-sector organizations, the PA Literacy Coalition is calling for a $100 million investment to jumpstart implementation, build capacity in schools, and ensure that every child — regardless of zip code — has access to effective reading instruction."
I agree with Rachael—the results are alarming. The fact that "just 33 percent of Pennsylvania fourth graders can read proficiently. In Philadelphia, that figure is 17 percent," is something that no one in the commonwealth should accept. And yes, those bills should be adopted and need to be funded. But we shouldn't lose sight of the role of public media and, in particular, public television in educating Pennsylvania's children, especially when it comes to literacy.
How many generations of children have learned the alphabet because of shows like Sesame Street? How many children have gotten excited about reading because of shows like Super Why! or Word World? All of that is at risk given what is going on in DC. Just imagine how much harder these efforts could be in the Commonwealth if public television and local public television stations ceased to exist.
Within the Commonwealth, PBS reaches 97 percent of all households with television. PBS is available with AND without cable service. Reach like that is unparalleled.
The Partnership Already Exists
Let's not forget PBS's role in helping and supporting teachers. PBS LearningMedia offers "free educational resources for PreK–12 educators and students."
PBS LearningMedia provides resources for emerging readers and teachers of emerging readers, including:
Lesson plans that include best practices for teaching print concepts, such as the parts of a book and sentence structure
Phonological awareness explored through several interactive games aimed at pre-kindergarten through second-grade students
A "cootie catcher" activity that can be used to encourage reading and writing sight words
Vowel combinations, phonics and decoding, and speech and reading accuracy resources
And remember, all of that is free.
While there may be a fight in Pennsylvania to get the legislation passed and then to get it funded, there is a very real fight right now to stop PBS from disappearing. Already, the Department of Education has frozen Ready To Learn grants, causing nearly 44 public media stations across 28 states to halt the educational efforts that are part of that program. Additionally, the White House has proposed clawing back funding for public media already approved through 2027 and eliminating the Corporation for Public Broadcasting entirely.
Mississippi Shows the Way
Returning to the column, Garnick encourages the reader to look at Mississippi:
"Ten years ago, it ranked 49th in the nation in reading outcomes. Today, it ranks ninth. How? Mississippi made early literacy the statewide priority. The state passed comprehensive, bipartisan legislation, ensured implementation was funded, and made sure that teachers, school leaders, and families had the support they needed to bring research-aligned reading instruction into every classroom."
Ironically, not only has Mississippi decided to make early literacy efforts a priority well beyond anything that is happening in Pennsylvania, but Mississippi Public Broadcasting is owned by the Mississippi Authority for Public Educational Television, and "operates under a state-mandated mission to broadcast to all corners of the state. State funding makes up a significant portion of MPB's budget."
Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, the seven public television stations receive little to no direct support from Harrisburg. And yet, they still provide the services desperately needed by students, families, teachers, and school districts.
The Call to Action
While I believe it is unlikely that leaders in Harrisburg will suddenly decide to start providing significant financial support for the Commonwealth's public television stations, I believe everyone needs to speak out in their support. To me, it just makes sense: if you support literacy efforts in the Commonwealth, if you support students, families, teachers and school districts, then you should be supporting public television.
Definitely speak up for literacy education AND public television. I know you can do both.
What do you think? Should literacy advocates be including public media protection in their policy agendas? Have you seen similar blind spots in your state's education debates? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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