AR PBS to continue AMI broadcasts for remainder of current school year

CONWAY — Arkansas PBS announced Tuesday that it will continue to support athome learning through “Arkansas AMI” for the remainder of the school year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The educational programming and classroom materials are produced in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.

“Arkansas AMI” provides curriculum-based programming that supports DESE learning guides that are available online and at a local level through school districts that are participating in this format of alternative methods of instruction.

“Utilizing wide-ranging media tools, Arkansas PBS is uniquely positioned to reach Arkansas families with learning resources through the power of television and a variety of digital platforms,” a news release said.

“Arkansas PBS will continue working to expand broadcast coverage in gap areas. Network over-the-air broadcasts currently reach 76% of the state, and Arkansas PBS is in conversations with cable and satellite providers to carry the primary channel to ensure families have access to AMI programming during school closures. Access to Arkansas PBS educational programming is important, especially for the 42% of families living in rural areas that may have little or no broadband capability,” the release said.

Viewers can currently watch “Arkansas AMI” on the following platforms:

• Daily broadcast on ARPBS-1 from 8 a.m. to

1 p.m. through May 22. Additional information, including content by grade and related resources, is available at http://www.myarkansaspbs. org/arkansasami.

• Livestream at http://www.myarkansaspbs. org/arkansasami.

• On demand by 10 a.m. each day, and archived, at http://www.myarkansaspbs.org/ arkansasami. These videos will remain available for the entirety of school closures due to

COVID-19, and longer as online rights allow.

• On the free Engage Arkansas PBS app for iPhone and Android.

• On the PBS Video app on mobile and streaming devices, such as Apple TV or Roku.

• On the Arkansas PBS channel for YouTube TV subscribers.

“Arkansas AMI” features five Arkansas Teachers of the Year hosting segments of each AMI day. The daily schedule beginning weekdays at 8 a.m. is divided into the following programming blocks:

• 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. Content, which covers a wide variety of topics, is aligned 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. Lesson plans can be downloaded by individuals, parents, caretakers and others who want to use these resources at http://www. myarkansaspbs.org/arkansasami, the release said.

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. weekdays on ARPBS-4 WORLD beginning Monday. Information on how to watch WORLD Channel is available at http://www.myarkansaspbs.org/channelinformation.

Anyone needing assistance with the broadcast or finding Arkansas PBS on TV should call Arkansas PBS at 800-662-2386 or email info@ myarkansaspbs.org, while anyone needing help with educational instruction should contact the Arkansas PBS education team at 501-682-0317 or AMIhelp@myarkansaspbs.org. Assistance is available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.