Arkansas PBS, the only statewide public media network, is airing “Arkansas AMI” in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division Elementary and Secondary Education in response to the mandatory school closures amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Arkansas PBS and ADE collaboration to support districts and families is a win for everyone during these unprecedented times,” Assistant Commissioner of Learning Services for the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Stacy Smith said. “The Arkansas AMI Learning Guides promote continuous learning in our state, while supporting our teachers, students and parents.”
“Arkansas AMI” is a streamlined, curriculum-based programming for the state’s pre-K through 8th grade students with five Arkansas Teachers of the Year hosting segments of each AMI day. It will begin at 8 a.m. on the weekdays and be divided into the following programming blocks:
- 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. | Grades Pre-K – 2
- 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. | Grades 3-5
- 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Grades 6-8
Viewers across the state can watch “Arkansas AMI” on the following channels, depending on their location, with an indoor or outdoor antenna:
- Northwest Arkansas – KAFT, channel 13.
- North Central Arkansas – KEMV, channel 6.
- Northeast Arkansas – KTEJ, channel 19.
- Central Arkansas – KETS, channel 2.
- Southwest Arkansas – KETG, channel 9.
- Southeast Arkansas – KETZ, channel 12.
Arkansas PBS is also available through select cable and satellite providers. More information is available at https://www.myarkansaspbs.org/onair/channelinformation
The Arkansas Department of Education will be sending digital AMI packets, including Spanish language materials and schedules, to each school district, and schools will determine how to distribute them.
Arkansas PBS will modify regularly scheduled programming for at least three weeks to offer specific resources for elementary and middle school students. Furthermore, all lesson videos and content will be archived for individuals to view online after 4 p.m on the same day as broadcast at https://www.myarkansaspbs.org/arkansasamiLesson plans are available to download as well.
PBS is also partnering with WORLD Channel on a content block for children in grades 6-12, which will be available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m to 4 p.m on ARPBS-4 WORLD. More information can be found https://www.myarkansaspbs.org/onair/channelinformation
Arkansas PBS is available for assistance with the broadcast or finding the channel on TV at 800-662-2386 or info@myarkansaspbs.org. Anyone needing help with educational instruction should contact the education team at 501-682-0317 or AMIhelp@myarkansaspbs.org. Assistance is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Other resources available through Arkansas PBS include:
- Arkansas PBS KIDS 24/7 channel (ARPBS-3), which supports early learning by broadcasting PBS KIDS programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Free national and local resources through Arkansas PBS LearningMedia.
- Teacher training and professional development through the ArkansasIDEAS professional development portal, which currently serves 60,000 users throughout the state.
- An Arkansas PBS LearningMedia resource page, available at https://ideas.myarkansaspbs.org/, to aid teachers and parents in kids’ at-home learning. Users can search for the age range that most accurately applies to their students – ages 3-5, ages 6-11 and ages 12+ – to be connected with resources, educational videos, activities and games.
- Schoolhouse Daily email messages that offer tips and activities for those with kids home from school. Anyone may sign up at https://www.myarkansaspbs.org/engage
READ MORE: Arkansas PBS Steps in to Fill Educational Gap