Arkansas PBS is broadcasting Arkansas AMI in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in response to mandatory school closures due to COVID-19.
Arkansas AMI (alternative methods of instruction) is a streamlined, curriculum-based programming for the state’s pre-K through 8th grade students. The broadcast began March 30, according to a news release.
“When the magnitude of the COVID-19 crisis started to materialize, the team at Arkansas PBS quickly realized we are uniquely positioned to offer positive solutions to the challenge of school closings,” Arkansas PBS Assistant Director of Education Sajni Kumpuris said. “Since we had an existing partnership with the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education at the Arkansas Department of Education through our ArkansasIDEAS professional development portal, we reached out to offer help.”
Kumpuris said the agency was excited to start the first week of AMI instruction to support continued learning throughout the state.
Arkansas AMI will feature five Arkansas Teachers of the Year hosting segments of each AMI day. The daily schedule, beginning weekdays at 8 a.m., will be divided into the following programming blocks:
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• 8-9:30 a.m.: Grades Pre-K-2;
• 9:30-11 a.m.: Grades 3-5;
• 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Grades 6-8.
Additionally, individuals can find a replay of this broadcast online where all lessons will be archived.
Arkansas PBS will modify regularly scheduled programming for at least three weeks to offer specific pre-K-8 resources between the hours of 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Content, which will cover a wide variety of topics, will align with current state and federal standards so that programming is flexible enough to serve as both supplemental and fundamental, based on the needs of school districts, according to the news release.
“The Arkansas PBS and ADE collaboration to support districts and families is a win for everyone during these unprecedented times,” said Education Stacy Smith, assistant commissioner of learning services for the Division of Elementary and Secondary . “The Arkansas AMI Learning Guides promote continuous learning in our state, while supporting our teachers, students and parents.”
Viewers statewide can tune in to the following channels, depending on their location, over the air using 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. For details about how to watch, visit myarkansaspbs.org/channelinformation.
Arkansas AMI instructional content and videos will be available online after 4 p.m. on the same day as broadcast at myarkansaspbs.org/arkansasami.
ADE will be sending digital AMI packets, including Spanish language materials and schedules, to each school district, and schools will determine how to distribute these materials to families. Lessons plans can be downloaded by individuals, parents, caretakers and others who want to use these resources at myarkansaspbs.org/arkansasami.
Additionally, PBS is partnering with WORLD Channel on a content block for children in grades 6-12, which will be made available from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday on ARPBS-4 WORLD beginning Monday. Information on how to watch WORLD Channel is available at myarkansaspbs.org/channelinformation.
For details on finding the broadcast or Arkansas PBS on TV, contact Arkansas PBS at info@myarkansaspbs.org or 800-662-2386. Anyone needing help with educational instruction should contact the Arkansas PBS 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.