CPB is requesting proposals from firms to provide strategic education consulting services to expand and advance CPB's overall education mission and goals, as well as to provide strategic advice and research services.
Currently, CPB provides funding and support for two major strategic education initiatives - Ready To Learn (RTL) and American Graduate: Let's Make It Happen (American Graduate). RTL is a partnership among the U.S. Department of Education, CPB, PBS, local public media stations and their community-based partners. RTL supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted to preschool and early elementary school children and their families. American Graduate is a multi-year public media initiative to assist public media television and radio stations and national public media and partner organizations in identifying and implementing solutions to address the high school dropout crisis in local communities. CPB also provides funding for the creation of children's educational content and resources on a wide range of platforms. In addition to supporting the work of local public media stations and national organizations, CPB has and expects to continue funding education related research and the capacity building efforts of public media stations to create educational content and sustainable education services.
Strategic advice and research services are expected to include the provision of: counsel, guidance and recommendations to inform CPB's education portfolio in key areas; input and information to assist with comprehensive strategic education planning efforts; information to remain current on new trends in education; and up-to-date information on education grant programs. The advisor will also be required to review research reports on education services provided by public media, assist with the construction of effective messaging, assist with drafting speeches and talking points, help plan, facilitate and structure meeting agendas, and provide strategic project management.
CPB expects to retain the firm for a one-year term, renewable for two consecutive one-year terms, at CPB's discretion. The contract for services will be on a fixed-fee basis for each term. The project is expected to require up to forty hours of work per month, with some months requiring more and some less effort.
