As part of Arkansas Celebrates America250, ArkansasIDEAS is excited to host a professional development challenge for educators. As always, ArkansasIDEAS is committed to discovering engaging strategies to connect both licensed and non-licensed teachers with high-quality professional development training. Learn along with us each month starting now, as we celebrate our country’s anniversary with America250-related content that also adds up to credit hours and gives you a chance to receive an amazing educational prize package!

As the summer winds down and the new school year starts, Arkansas PBS is here to help families make the transition smooth, successful and even a little fun. Whether your child is feeling excited, nervous or a bit of both, PBS KIDS offers a wide variety of tips and tools – from crafts and games to articles – that can ease anxiety and set the tone for a great year ahead.

ArkansasIDEAS is all about helping educators, and we’re excited to share some big news! LinkedIn Learning is now free for all Arkansas teachers who have a current AELS number. You can choose from over 21,000 courses taught by real-world professionals. Get access by using your credentials to log on to ArkansasIDEAS with any device.

For 20 years, ArkansasIDEAS has been a cornerstone of professional development for educators across the state, helping K-12 teachers grow, innovate and elevate student learning. As the most widely used online professional development resource in the state, ArkansasIDEAS – through its strong partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) – has provided thousands of educators with high-quality courses tailored to their unique needs.

In support of National Autism Acceptance Month, Arkansas PBS will present “Autism Amplified: Acceptance Through Communication,” a special designed to inform and raise awareness about autism, Thursday, April 25, at 7 p.m., and livestreaming at myarpbs.org/watch or in the PBS App.  

Introducing the PBS Books Readers Club

We are thrilled to announce the start of an exciting national PBS book club!

Each month we’ll select books that pair perfectly with your favorite PBS shows.

Returning to school can be a big and stressful transition for children. Even your smallest kids may be feeling stressed or anxious. A new school year brings a new teacher, new routines, new classmates and all kinds of new schoolwork. That much change could make anyone feel overwhelmed, but children often don’t know how to cope with these big emotions.

We’re excited to share that our original show “Mystery League” – a new 20-episode, live-action series to teach kids in kindergarten through second grades about friendship and community –will premiere this fall on the statewide public media network.

“Rise and Shine,” an extensive educational program designed to make summer learning fun and offer K-5 students an engaging way to maintain academic knowledge between school years, will kick off Tuesday, July 18, on Arkansas PBS.  

The “Arkansas Quiz Bowl 2023” state champions have been crowned in the state conference finals held at Arkansas PBS on Saturday, April 22, and we’re proud to celebrate these outstanding young scholars!

The final standings were:

CLASS 1A

2023 State Champion: Norfork School District