After funding cuts, PBS children’s programming soldiers on with ‘Phoebe & Jay’

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Paula Kerger, head of PBS, wants everyone to know that PBS remains committed to creating high-quality content and is more determined than ever to deliver it.

As president and CEO, she’s witnessed significant funding cuts under the current administration. These cuts led to the elimination of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting – the organization that supported PBS and NPR – and ultimately its closure. Furthermore, the Department of Education unexpectedly ended the Ready to Learn program last May. This program, which had been consistently renewed since 1995, provided funding for educational media and resources for young children, ages 2 to 8, with a specific focus on reaching those from low-income families.

According to Kerger, about half of all children in the US don’t attend any preschool programs. He explains that the Department of Education has long considered them a key resource for creating educational materials, especially for children who might otherwise fall behind without extra support compared to those with more access to learning opportunities.

Every five years, the Ready to Learn program provided funding for the creation of two or three new shows, which allowed PBS to consistently launch at least one new children’s program each year. Over time, this initiative has supported popular PBS Kids shows like “Odd Squad,” “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” “Arthur,” “Sesame Street,” “Super Why,” “Molly of Denali,” and “Lyla in the Loop.”

The shows “Molly of Denali” and “Sesame Street” received funding from the Ready to Learn initiative. (PBS Kids, via Associated Press photographer Zach Hyman)

Sara DeWitt, head of PBS Kids and Education, explained that the unexpected end of Ready to Learn funding caused a $20 million yearly budget cut. This immediately led to staff reductions – the PBS Kids team shrank by 30% – and the halting of several research projects. They are now urgently seeking new funding sources. DeWitt emphasized that the program has historically been reliable and enjoyed support from both Democrats and Republicans because it focuses on helping young children prepare for school, especially those who may not have access to quality preschool programs.

World & Nation

The closure of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will stop the creation of well-known educational shows, cultural programs, and important emergency alerts about natural disasters.

The new PBS Kids show, “Phoebe & Jay,” will debut on Monday. It’s the final program funded by the Ready to Learn initiative. Created by Genie Deez and Thy Than, the animated series features six-year-old twins, Phoebe and Jay Yarber, who live with their dad and grandma in an apartment building. The show is all about how important reading and writing skills are in everyday life – things like understanding laundry instructions, finding an address, or recognizing food allergy labels.

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This is Deez’s first television series, and he’s excited to join the long history of PBS. “My co-star and I grew up watching PBS,” Deez explains. “We’ve always been big fans and admirers of the network.”

The show is built around compelling stories, explains Than. They aim to portray realistic experiences for children. For example, when Phoebe and Jay face a challenge on their adventures, the series explores how everyday reading skills can help them find solutions.

He calls this the “Mr. Miyagi effect,” a nod to the famous mentor from the “Karate Kid” films. He explains that learning happens subtly, “woven into the story so it feels completely natural.”

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Kelly B. Cartwright, the educational advisor for the series, emphasizes the importance of getting young children interested in reading. She explains that the program demonstrates that reading isn’t just for adults – it’s for everyone, and a valuable skill for achieving goals. “When children realize reading is a tool they can use, it motivates them to learn and feel empowered,” says Cartwright, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Thanks to funding from Ready to Learn, local PBS stations can now offer in-person events. PBS SoCal will be showing the series on February 21st at the Compton Library, with actors Deez and Than available for a Q&A and a chance to meet the characters. Than explains that it’s important for young children to see themselves represented on screen, something they didn’t have growing up. Their goal is to authentically reflect their own experiences and the community around them through the show.

Than wanted to showcase the diversity of Black hairstyles, so she gave Phoebe three different looks. “Black women and girls love expressing themselves through their hair, and I wanted to reflect that in the story,” she explained.

Deez emphasizes the importance of small details, explaining that children especially pick up on things like Phoebe’s changing hairstyles, the way Jay’s hair is styled, and differences in skin tones. These details create a sense of realism and help people connect with what they’re seeing, because they can see themselves reflected in it – and that’s a powerful thing.

As a lifelong movie and TV fan, what’s always struck me about PBS is how much care they put into everything. So, when I heard they were pausing research into new kids’ shows, it really worried me. PBS doesn’t just want to hold a child’s attention like other networks do – they’re focused on what kids actually gain from what they’re watching. It’s not enough for them to simply entertain; they want to make a real difference, and that thoughtful approach is what makes their children’s programming so special.

According to Kerger, PBS doesn’t judge a show’s success simply by how many people watch it. Instead, PBS focuses on whether children gain valuable skills and knowledge – especially before starting school – as identified by early childhood educators. The goal is to ensure kids learn what the show intends to teach through watching and interacting with the content.

DeWitt described the loss of the research data as “devastating,” explaining that it impacts more than just PBS. It affects everyone involved in understanding how children learn from media – including educators, researchers, and media professionals. This research was crucial for improving how we use media to teach kids, and its loss is a setback for the entire field.

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NPR and PBS stations, including some in Southern California, are facing difficult choices after the Senate voted to reduce their funding.

When funding for “Phoebe & Jay” was reduced, the show’s debut was postponed from last fall to now, and the release of new episodes was spread out. The team had to quickly find ways to cover the financial shortfall to finish all 40 episodes. To support learning, the show will launch with two interactive games for kids. A key benefit of PBS Kids is that it’s free, and these games can be downloaded for offline play, which is important for families without reliable internet access. However, maintaining this downloadable feature is costly, and unless more funding is secured, it may not be sustainable, according to DeWitt.

Even though funding hasn’t gone as planned, DeWitt and Kerger are optimistic about the future of “Phoebe & Jay” and other educational shows. DeWitt explains, “We have so many more stories we want to tell.” She points out that it’s rare to see completely new, original content in children’s programming, especially from a first-time creator and a team that’s experienced but new to developing their own ideas. She believes this makes the project particularly promising.

Kerger emphasizes that PBS’s strength lies in its relationship with the public – the ‘P’ in PBS. He notes that the continued success of PBS, both now and in the future, depends on the support of its viewers, a group they’ve long acknowledged with the phrase ‘and thanks to viewers like you.’

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2026-02-02 14:03