Virginia public media stations offering teacher-led classroom instruction
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Four Virginia public media stations are broadcasting teacher-led classroom instruction aligned with the commonwealth’s academic standards. The stations, including VPM in the Richmond region, worked with the Virginia Department of Education to create “VA TV Classroom” to provide instruction to students in grades K-10 who are unable to access other distance learning options due to a lack of high-speed internet. The shows began April 13 and run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.
“I would like to thank Blue Ridge PBS, VPM, WETA and WHRO Public Media for providing this resource for students while schools are closed as part of the commonwealth’s strategy to slow the spread of the coronavirus and protect public health,” Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane said. “It is nothing short of amazing that these public media stations were able to create ‘VA TV Classroom’ and schedule its launch within a month of the governor’s initial order to close schools.”
The “VA TV Classroom” on-air schedule is:
• K-3 instruction from 1-2 p.m., with Standards of Learning-aligned content provided by WHRO Public Media. “Learn to Grow with WHRO” segments will be 15 minutes in length and led by teachers.
• Grades 7-10 instruction from 2-3 p.m., with SOL-aligned content provided by WHRO Public Media focusing on Earth Science and Algebra 1.
During the week of April 27, “VA TV Classroom” will add a special hour from 3-4 p.m. called “AP Prep Week,” with content provided by Virtual Virginia — in collaboration with WHRO — focusing on a different AP subject each day. The hour will include two 30-minute segments.
“At a time when all of Virginia’s students are out of school, public media is a valuable, trusted resource our communities can rely on to deliver high-quality educational content for all ages. VPM is honored to partner with Virginia’s public television stations and the state Department of Education to give students and their families a way to continue their learning at home,” said Jayme Swain, President of VPM and CEO of the Virginia Foundation for Public Media.
VPM is available via antenna on channel 57.1, Verizon FiOS 24 and 524 (HD), Comcast 24 and 797 (HD), DIRECTV 57, DISH 57 and 9392 (HD)
