NEW PHASE IN GEORGIA’S MARIETTA CITY SCHOOLS’ PARTNERSHIP WITH DISCOVERY EDUCATION FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING DISTRICTWIDE Christina Scripps, Discovery Education(240) 662-6502christina_scripps@discovery.com –Dynamic Digital Science Textbooks Will Advance District Efforts to Create Challenging, Learner-Centered Environments that Prepare Students for College and Careers– Silver Spring, Md. (September 21, 2015) – Georgia’s Marietta City Schools (MCS) and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, today announced an expansion of their 15-year partnership. In the latest phase of this collaboration, MCS will provide students district-wide access to Discovery Education’s award-winning Science Techbook™. A digital textbook series, Discovery Education’s Techbooks are aligned to rigorous standards, support a comprehensive curriculum, and include professional development. MCS’s integration of the Discovery Education Science Techbook into classroom instruction supports the school system’s new District Technology Plan. Created by the district’s Technology Innovation Committee with the input of district educators, parents, and other stakeholders, this strategic blueprint is guiding the creation of the inquiry-based, experiential learning communities critical to MCS’s efforts to ensure all students graduate college, career, and life ready. Discovery Education’s Science Techbook series empowers educators to transform science instruction. Utilizing an inquiry-based format built on the Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate (5E) model, each Science Techbook includes rich, standards-aligned content such as video, audio, text, interactives with hands-on activities, and virtual labs that help educators differentiate instruction and provide a rich and engaging learning experience for students. Additional student features include bilingual text-to-speech and leveled reading tools, and note-taking and highlighting capabilities. Embedded formative assessment opportunities help educators monitor student progress, and like all Discovery Education digital textbooks, the Science Techbook works on any device and can be implemented in a variety of instructional settings. To ensure each MCS teacher is fully supported in their transition to the Science Techbook, Discovery Education experts will provide all Science faculty high-quality professional development supporting the integration of the digital textbook into classroom practice. A recent study conducted by independent research firm Merola Research, LLC found that usage of Science Techbook is associated with higher science achievement scores in elementary school students. After one year of implementation in South Carolina’s Rock Hill Schools, fourth grade students whose teachers used Discovery Education Science Techbook scored higher on average on the 2013 Science Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS) than students whose teachers did not use Science Techbook. Techbooks are also a substantially less expensive option per student at nearly half the cost of a traditional textbook, with additional savings derived from a lack of textbook replacement or inventory costs. “As a school system committed to innovation, MCS prides itself on ensuring that all students achieve high levels of academic success and are prepared to be college and career ready upon graduation,” said MCS Superintendent Dr. Emily Lembeck. “We are pleased to expand our collaboration with Discovery Education. Together, we are providing the technology-rich learning experiences that are critical for all of our students to obtain the skills necessary for global competitiveness.” The Discovery Educator Network (DEN) will continue supporting MCS educators in their efforts to transform students’ learning experience with digital media. A global community of education professionals, the DEN connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable networking, idea sharing, and inspiration. In addition, MCS educators and students will continue using Discovery Education Streaming Plus, a comprehensive digital service supplementing instruction across all K-12 curricular areas. First introduced into Marietta City Schools in 2001 through Discovery Education and Georgia Public Broadcasting’s long-term partnership, Streaming Plus is currently used in classrooms district-wide. “Discovery Education is pleased to deepen our collaboration with Marietta City Schools, and we look forward to continuing to support their efforts to build the inquiry-based, experiential learning communities today’s students demand and deserve,” said Shayla Rexrode, manager of partnerships at Discovery Education. “We applaud Dr. Lembeck and the entire MCS team for their continued dedication to creating supportive, engaging and technology-rich classrooms that advance academic achievement.” For more information about the Discovery Education Science Techbook series or other services and resources from Discovery Education, visit www.discoveryeducation.com. About Discovery EducationDiscovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional development, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 3 million educators and over 30 million students, Discovery Education’s services are in half of U.S. classrooms, over 40 percent of all primary schools the UK, and more than 50 countries. Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.