It has become apparent distance learning is absolutely vital as children may not get back into a classroom for weeks or months. Therefore, PBS39 has worked with educators locally and nationally to create Lehigh Valley Learns, an over-the-air educational offering that launched March 30.

Lehigh Valley Learns is broadcasting over PBS39’s channels in the mornings, with grade-specific programming at the same time each weekday.

Recognizing a portion of the community does not have access to the Internet, the sole medium that can reach nearly 100 percent of students is broadcast television. By airing Lehigh Valley Learns on PBS39, anyone with a TV can watch over the air.

Programming by grade level is as follows on PBS39 and PBS39 Extra:

PBS39 No. 39.1 by antenna (also available on Service Electric No. 512/12, RCN No. 1008/8, Fios No. 539, Dish No. 8168/39 and DirecTV No. 39)

• 7:30-10 a.m., kindergarten

• 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., first grade

• 12:30-3 p.m., second grade

PBS39 Extra No. 35.1 by antenna (also available on Service Electric No. 53, RCN No. 38, Fios No. 35 and DirecTV No. 2183)

• 9:30 a.m.-noon, third grade

• noon-2:30 p.m., fourth grade

• 2:30-5 p.m., fifth grade

“Public television was founded more than 50 years ago to provide free, over-the-air educational materials to every single home in America. Today, the continuing value of public TV is reaffirmed as our professional educators work with local and national experts to bring age- and curriculum-appropriate materials from our vast library to every K-5 student in our 3.28 million household viewing area,” said Tim Fallon, chief executive officer of Lehigh Valley Public Media.

In this curriculum, available for grades K-5, families will see a marriage of Pennsylvania State Standards and the national Common Core Standards with PBS’ high-quality educational programming. Additionally, the programming choices align directly with English language arts topics teachers were actively teaching in the classroom earlier this year.

Students will also be provided with a curriculum for math, social studies, science and social emotional learning.

“It is our job as not only a public broadcast company but an education organization to step up during times like this. We are thrilled to be able to take action to provide the community with a consistent and reliable remote education option,” said Catherine Reifsnyder, manager of education at Lehigh Valley Public Media.

PBS39 is committed not only to providing educational programming for everyone in any socioeconomic situation but to also provide programming on a consistent schedule. PBS39 is dedicated to keeping local educators at the forefront of this initiative to help fill any gaps missing in the programming.

This new broadcast programming is in addition to two other resources from PBS39’s Education Department:

• PBS39 Distance Learning Resource Center - on this website, you will find a variety of digital learning tools for children ages pre-K through high school, curated by our education team at PBS39. On the PBS LearningMedia website, you can filter by grade and media type for the best learning experience possible for your children. If you have Internet access, you can find more learning content from PBS39 at PBS39.org/DistanceLearning.

• PBS LearningMedia - this is where PBS39 and PBS have curated free, standards-aligned videos, images, lesson plans, articles, primary sources and more. PBS LearningMedia offers access to trusted content to supplement curriculum for any grade level. The platform offers a wide array of resources from the many genres that PBS39 is known for - from science programs and documentaries to news and public affairs, history and the arts - and contextualizes them so they are easy for teachers to implement. These materials include content from PBS KIDS series that teach important foundational early learning skills, including literacy, STEM, social-emotional development and social studies.