NORTH CAROLINA’S ROWAN-SALISBURY SCHOOL SYSTEM CONTINUES TRANSITION TO DIGITAL LEARNING THROUGH EXPANDED DISCOVERY EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP Shawnee Cohn, Discovery Education240-662-2661shawnee_cohn@discovery.com -Addition of Digital Science and Math Textbooks to Support District’s Continuing Efforts to Provide Collaborative and Personalized Learning Opportunities for all Students- Silver Spring, Md. (September 14, 2015) – North Carolina’s Rowan-Salisbury School System (RSS) a member of Digital Promise’s League of Innovative Schools, today announced an expansion of its partnership with Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms. Supporting the district’s continued transition to digital learning environments, the latest phase of this collaboration empowers middle and high school educators to engage students in learning with Discovery Education’s Math Techbook™. Additionally, Discovery Education’s award-winning Science Techbook™ will be integrated into high school science instruction. A digital textbook series, Discovery Education’s Techbooks are aligned to rigorous standards, support a comprehensive curriculum, and include robust professional development. This expanded partnership supports elements of the Rowan-Salisbury School System’s 2014-2017 Strategic Plan, which guides district efforts to equip all students with the learning experiences, tools and skills they need for future success. Developed by a committee composed of parents, students, teachers, administrators, community members and school board members, the three-year plan outlines strategies for providing all students with engaging work and instruction to ensure their learning experiences are Connected, Collaborative, Relevant and Personalized (CCRP). In support of this plan, RSS initiated a district-wide 1:1 program last year and partnered with Discovery Education to empower all educators with access to Discovery Education Streaming Plus, a comprehensive digital service supplementing instruction across all K-12 curricular areas. Additionally, middle school educators also began integrating Discovery Education’s Science and Social Studies Techbooks into instruction. Discovery Education’s Techbooks are award-winning digital textbooks that are aligned to rigorous standards, support a comprehensive curriculum, and update regularly at no cost. The series engages all types of learners through interactive features, including the ability to change reading levels and have text read aloud. The Techbook series also saves teachers’ time with a comprehensive design that places model lessons, student activities and assessments at their fingertips. Techbooks are platform neutral and can be used in 1:1 or 1-to-many configurations and in any instructional environment. Discovery Education Math Techbook transforms the way students and teachers experience math through engaging instructional strategies and real-world problems that motivate and excite students with diverse learning styles. Utilizing an inquiry-based format built on the 5E model, the Science Techbook, through hands-on labs, digital explorations, an interactive glossary, and data analysis activities, helps teach students to read, write, and think like scientists. “The Rowan-Salisbury School System is pleased to expand our partnership with Discovery Education,” said Dr. Lynn Moody, superintendent of the Rowan-Salisbury School System. “Discovery Education’s dynamic digital resources and professional development are helping our teachers change the culture of instruction, and are ensuring our students are fully engaged, thinking critically and collaborating with other students to apply real-world meaning to their learning. They are a valuable partner supporting our efforts to provide an extraordinary educational experience for every child – every day.” To ensure each RSS teacher is fully supported in their transition to the Science and Math Techbooks, Discovery Education experts will provide faculty high-quality professional development supporting the integration of the digital textbook into classroom practice. In addition, the Discovery Educator Network (DEN) will continue supporting RSS 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. “We are proud to continue assisting Rowan-Salisbury School System’s nationally-recognized efforts to increase rigor and engagement in their classrooms through digital learning,” said Shayla Rexrode, manager of partnerships at Discovery Education. “We applaud Dr. Moody and the entire team at RSS for their dedication to transforming teaching and learning by providing all teachers and students with digital tools and resources that foster authentic, real-world learning experiences.” For more information about the Discovery Education Techbook series or other Discovery Education services, please 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 in 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.