The mission of the Cooney Center is to advance children’s learning through digital media.
Our Legacy
In 1966, Joan Ganz Cooney and her colleagues charted new territory by harnessing the power of television to educate underserved preschoolers. Their efforts led to the creation of Sesame Street, now the single largest informal educator in the world, reaching some 100 million children and families in more than 140 countries.
Our Mission
Watch our Intro to the Center video.
The Cooney Center is an independent research and innovation lab that catalyzes and supports research, development, and investment in digital media technologies to advance children's learning. The focus of The Cooney Center is on literacy development for diverse learners. Programs address vital foundational capabilities, such as reading and writing, with a special emphasis on struggling readers who risk educational failure if they do not master basic competencies by grade 4. The Cooney Center is also focusing national attention on evolving "new literacies" that children need to compete and cooperate in the 21st century. Major initiatives focus on inter-cultural understanding, media literacy, and advancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) learning -- all of which have become critical in an interconnected world.
Our People
The Cooney Center is supported by a team of founders, staff, fellows, and advisors. While our collective expertise ranges from developmental psychology and digital media research to media production, we all share a common vision.
Our Sponsors
The Cooney Center works with sponsors to maximize visibility through a tailored communications strategy that includes, but is not limited to, brand recognition opportunities on the Cooney Center's Website, social media platforms (e.g., our YouTube channel), and press outreach. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact us.























































