Amid School Closures, EMPIRE | KVCR Launches At-Home Learning Partnership with Riverside County Office of Education, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (March 27, 2020) – As schools suspend classes to slow the spread of COVID-19, the local PBS and NPR member station, Empire KVCR, launched a partnership with the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) and the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) to support at-home learning. Empire KVCR is now offering students, families and teachers programming aligned to California’s state curriculum on TV Channel 24 and kvcr.org/education.

“Our children will be our future scientists, doctors, nurses, and first responders, and they're at home right now, eager to learn and grow,” says San Bernardino Community College District Interim Chancellor Jose Torres. “Even though schools may be closed, we must continue working together – families and educators – to nurture the life potential of our students."

San Bernardino Community College District owns the broadcast license for Empire KVCR.

As part of the collaboration, the station is tailoring its weekday television schedule for students in Pre-K through high school. The Riverside County Office of Education and San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools are developing additional at-home learning content for high school students.

“More than one million preschool to college-aged students in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties have seen their educational journeys interrupted due to school closures,” says Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Judy D. White. “In these unprecedented times, partnering with educational leaders like Empire KVCR and SBCSS to develop innovative at-home learning tools will be invaluable for parents and students.”

San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre is optimistic about the bi-county collaboration.

“This is an exciting new partnership that will benefit our students, families and educators to further support at-home learning while schools are closed as a result of COVID-19,” says Alejandre. “It is critical that our students have continuity of learning, and that families have tools and resources aligned to statewide curriculum. Through this valuable, regional partnership we are expanding access to rich learning resources for students and families during these uncertain times.”

At-Home Learning Weekday Schedule on Empire KVCR TV channel 24

• 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. – Pre-K through 3rd grade: Sesame Street (basic reading), Nature Cat (science and nature), PEG + CAT (math), Curious George (math and engineering), Daniel Tiger (social sciences), and Wild Kratts (natural science).
• 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. – 9th through 12th grade: American Experience (history) and NOVA (science).
• 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. – 4th through 8th grade: History Detectives, Wild Archaeology, and Huell Howser’s California Missions.
• 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Adult learners: Various programming on cooking, crafting, painting and woodworking.

Free Online Tools For Teachers and Families

• Educational TV scheduleEmpire KVCR is broadcasting programs aligned with California curriculum standards like NOVA, Sesame Street, History Detectives, Curious George, and American Experience weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• PBS LearningMedia Empire KVCR is providing resource collections to PBS LearningMedia that correspond with its television broadcast schedule. Collections include curated media and lessons, sorted by grade level and subject area.
• Free Training Empire KVCR supports PBS LearningMedia webinars which are offered twice-daily.
• Tips and Tools for Teachers Empire KVCR provides access to tools, tips and blogs for teachers on various topics including "3 Ways to Turn Your Classroom Remote in a Hurry," and "Misinformation, Data Literacy and the Novel Coronavirus."
• Empire KVCR 91.9 FM / NPR News On 91.9 FM, Empire KVCR provides news updates on COVID-19, and announcements about upcoming TV educational programming.

About SBCCD

San Bernardino Community College District serves 27,000 students through Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College. For nearly 100 years, our colleges have provided access to affordable higher education and career training programs for the residents of Big Bear Lake, Bloomington, Calimesa, Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Highland, Lake Arrowhead, Loma Linda, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino and Yucaipa. We educate the health care professionals that serve our medical needs, veterans who have served our country, police and firefighters who keep us safe, and skilled workers who fuel our economy. Beyond our campuses, we inform and inspire learners of all ages through EMPIRE | KVCR, the PBS and NPR affiliate station for the Inland Empire on TV channel 24 and 91.9 FM. Learn more at sbccd.edu

Board of Trustees

• Dr. Anne L. Viricel, Chair
• Dr. Stephanie Houston, Vice Chair
• Gloria Macias Harrison, Clerk
• John Longville, Member
• Frank Reyes, Member
• Dr. Donald L. Singer, Member
• Joseph Williams, Member
• Elijah Gerard, Student Trustee
• Maritza Mariscal-Medina, Student Trustee

Interim Chancellor

• Jose F Torres

Presidents

• Dr. Kevin Horan, Crafton Hills College
• Diana Z. Rodriguez, San Bernardino Valley College

About Riverside County Office of Education

The Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) is a service agency supporting the county’s 23 school districts that serve nearly 430,000 students—more than the student population of 17 states. RCOE services include administrative support to districts, programs for preschool, special education, pregnant minor, correctional, migrant and vocational students. In addition, the organization provides professional training, support and resources for more than 18,000 teachers, administrators and staff throughout the 7,000 square miles of Riverside County. Learn more at www.rcoe.us.

About San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

The San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools serves as an intermediate service agency between the California Department of Education and the 33 K-12 school districts in the county. The office works in collaboration with school districts, other agencies, families and the community at-large to ensure success for the 403,000 K-12 students in San Bernardino County. For more news and information visit sbcss.net.

Learn More:

• Angel Rodriguez
• San Bernardino Community College District
• (909) 384-6904 | arodriguez@sbccd.edu

• Craig Petinak
• Riverside County Office of Education
• (9551) 826-6679 | cpetinak@rcoe.us

• Christine McGrew
• San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
• (909) 386-2413 | christine.mcgrew@sbcss.net