Arkansas Governor’s School is pivoting to remote learning for the remainder of the 2021 program.
The decision to send the almost 370 rising high school seniors participating in the 42nd Arkansas Governor’s School home was made on Friday, July 23, in consultation with the Arkansas Department of Education after three students and one faculty member tested positive for COVID-19.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we will transition the remainder of the 42nd Arkansas Governor’s School to a virtual format that will allow students to complete the curriculum from home,” said Dr. Robin Lasey, director of AGS, and Dr. Jeff Woods, co-director of AGS, in a statement issued Friday night. “Given the increasing prevalence of COVID-19 in our state at this time and our civic responsibility to contribute to the health and safety of AGS students, faculty and staff as well as the larger community, we believe it is in everyone’s best interest to make this pivot to remote learning.”
The checkout process will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 24, and continue until all AGS students have returned home. Parents and guardians may report to the Arkansas Tech University residence hall where their child has been staying in order to check them out and take them home. Photo identification will be required for parents and guardians to check out their students.
AGS 2021 is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, Aug. 1.
“There is one week remaining in the 42nd Arkansas Governor’s School,” said Lasey and Woods. “Our faculty is committed to continuing the meaningful educational experience that our students have participated in since we convened on July 5. We will apply the lessons in remote teaching and learning that we learned during AGS 2020 to make the best of our final few days with this current group of remarkable young people from around our state.”
Visit www.atu.edu/ags to learn more about Arkansas Governor’s School.
