FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Education Department and New York鈥檚 Public Television Stations Announce Expanded Remote Learning During Statewide School Closure
Local Public Media Channels to Broadcast Educational Content for Pre-K to 12th Grade
New Remote Continuity of Learning Resources Website Launches
The 色中色 and New York鈥檚 nine public television stations announced today that expanded educational resources and 鈥淟earn-at-Home鈥 programming is now available for all of New York鈥檚 students in response to school closings across the state. In addition, 色中色 has launched a dedicated website featuring remote continuity of learning resources to provide districts and teachers with increased options.
Students from prekindergarten through 12th Grade will have access to PBS educational programming every weekday starting Monday, March 23rd on-air. These efforts will help ensure that all students can 鈥淟earn-at-Home", whether they have a computer or broadband at home.
鈥淎s we adapt to the ever-evolving situation around COVID-19, we鈥檙e seeing heroic efforts by educators and parents to ensure that children have equitable access to home-learning,鈥 Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa said. 鈥淥ur partners at PBS have once again stepped up to provide easily accessible, high-quality educational resources for New York students and I encourage educators and parents to make use of these additional resources.鈥
鈥淧BS has a long history of supporting teachers, parents and, most of all, children through its excellent educational programming and we鈥檙e proud to support and recommend these resources during the unprecedented school closures,鈥 Interim Commissioner Shannon Tahoe said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 crucial that we limit learning loss during this time as much as possible and these free instruction and learning resources offer ideas and inspiration for parents and educators across the state.鈥
鈥淥nline learning is not an option for a lot of kids at home because they lack access to broadband or a laptop,鈥 said Bill McColgan, Chair of the Association of Public Broadcasting Stations of New York. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we are ensuring that all kids can access this at-home learning via our free, over-the-air broadcasts.鈥
PBS to Broadcast Educational Content for Pre-K Through 12th Grade
All nine public television stations in New York are providing 鈥淟earn-at-Home鈥 enrichment for students through their broadcast stations and increased online educational resources.
Pre-K and young learners can still watch familiar shows like Sesame Street.听Elementary student broadcast schedules include trusted programs like Wild Kratts, Peg + Cat, and Cyberchase. Middle school and high school programming include shows like Nova, History Detectives, and Shakespeare Uncovered.听As always, many additional programs are also available to stream on the free PBS Video and PBS KIDS Video apps.
Since every PBS station in New York has multiple digital channels, programming will be available for young children (PreK to 4th Grade) and older children (5th to 12th Grade) on different digital channels. They can be viewed for free over-the-air with a television antenna or on cable.
鈥淧BS ensures that its content is not only engaging, but aligned to state and national learning standards, so parents can feel comfortable knowing it鈥檚 going to reinforce what has been taught,鈥澨齭aid Rachel Friedman, a Suffolk County teacher. 鈥淚 am so glad that PBS is providing this so quickly in this crisis.鈥
Parents and educators should check local listings for their local public television stations for additional information on schedules and channel lineup.听You can find your local PBS station by using the
Local stations will also provide more specific educational information and resources developed in conjunction with local school districts, BOCES, parents, and teachers.
New York鈥檚 educators and parents can continue to access free educational resources that supplement and augment learning on the website, PBSLearningMedia.org.听 PBS LearningMedia provides original digital content and supplemental viewing guides for on-air programming that assist in learning. New special collections have been created for each grade level to make it easy for parents and teachers to select appropriate content if they are new to using the service.听Webinars and online support materials have already been taking place and will continue to help educators make use of PBS LearningMedia as a distance learning tool.
For more information, please visit your local station:
- 鈥 Buffalo
- 鈥 Rochester
- 鈥 Syracuse
- 鈥 Binghamton
- 鈥 Watertown
- 鈥 Plattsburgh
- 鈥 Albany/Troy
- 鈥 New York City
- 鈥 Long Island
Remote Instruction and Continuity of Learning Resources Website
色中色鈥檚 remote Continuity of Learning Resources website is live now and includes options and examples of technology and non-technology-based resources for districts and schools, as they develop distance learning plans for students during closure due to the Novel Coronavirus.
Among many other resources, this new site features lists of digital content to enhance distance learning in a dozen subject areas including early learning, English Language Arts (ELA), Math, Physical Education, Science, Social Studies and Special Education. Educators will also find digital tools to assist in communicating with students and families and creating engaging instructional opportunities for students.
色中色鈥檚 site also provides non-technological suggestions for schools and parents to consider when planning for continuity of learning. There are many ways students can continue learning that do not require access to a computing device.
色中色 will continue to update and add resources to this dedicated website as they become available.
Media Contact
Reporters and education writers may contact the Office of Communications by email or phone at:
Press@nysed.gov
(518) 474-1201