FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 10.30.08

Contacts:
Stephen Wakefield, Discovery Education
240-662-2893
stephen_wakefield@discovery.com

Kathleen Johansen
980-343-0472
kathleen.johansen@cms.k12.nc.us

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Discovery Education Partner to Improve Student Achievement through Professional Development for Educators and Engaging Digital Resources

Collaboration to be announced at special event featuring Animal Planet’s Jeff Corwin

Charlotte, NC. (October 30, 2008) – A new partnership will be announced today with Discovery Education to enhance student achievement in math, reading and science in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Discovery Education will provide CMS educators with professional development opportunities and high-quality digital resources to improve student achievement in all grades. Correlated with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, Discovery Education’s digital content is scientifically proven to improve student achievement.

This announcement will be made prior to an invitation-only special screening this evening of The Vanishing Frog, a new documentary by Animal Planet personality and biologist, Jeff Corwin, held at Discovery Place.

“We are excited about our partnership with Discovery Education to give students access to a variety of new digital tools,” said Dr. Peter C. Gorman, Superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. “This will help us in our goal of increasing student achievement.”

Charlotte-based Discovery Education is a division of Discovery Communications, whose networks include Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and the Science Channel.

“Our mission is to provide the highest-quality digital content and services that empower educators to improve student achievement,” said Bill Goodwyn, President of Discovery Education. “Recent studies have shown that students spend more time consuming information through media than ever before. For this group of students, digital content can be an extremely effective teaching tool, and we are happy to partner with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to provide area educators and students these resources.”

To launch the partnership, Corwin is visiting with educators and students at Cochrane Middle and Morehead Elementary schools today to discu ss the importance of science education. He also will talk to students about why the world’s frogs are vanishing at such an alarming rate and what that means to our environment. Corwin’s visit will culminate this evening with an exclusive screening of his new documentary The Vanishing Frog, which will premiere on Animal Planet Thursday, Nov. 20th, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Following the screening, Corwin will participate in a question-and-answer session moderated by Cindy Moss, Director of Math and Science Instruction at CMS.

For more information about Discovery Education and its services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com.

About Discovery Education
Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB and DISCK) revolutionized television with Discovery Channel and is now transforming classrooms through Discovery Education. Powered by the number one nonfiction media company in the worl d, Discovery Education combines scientifically proven, standards-based digital media and a dynamic user community in order to empower teachers to improve student achievement. Already, more than half of all U.S. schools access Discovery Education digital services. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

About Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
CMS is a combined city-county district with 174 schools and an enrollment of 137,180 students (pre-kindergarten through 12th grade). The district has more than 18,000 employees and is one of the largest employers in Mecklenburg County.