CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS REINVENTS MATH INSTRUCTION AND FUELS DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION THROUGH BROADENED PARTNERSHIP WITH DISCOVERY EDUCATION Christina Scripps, Discovery Education240-662-6502christina_scripps@discovery.com -District Fully Digitizes Math and Science Curriculum by Integrating Dynamic Digital ‘Techbooks’ into Classroom Instruction- Silver Spring, Md. (August 24, 2015) – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), the second-largest school district in North Carolina, and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, today announced an expansion of their seven-year partnership. In the latest phase of this collaboration, CMS will begin integrating Discovery Education’s Math Techbooks™ into classroom instruction districtwide. Math Techbook, the latest addition to Discovery Education’s award-winning line of digital textbooks, 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. This expanded partnership supports CMS’ Strategic Plan 2018: For a Better Tomorrow. Developed last year with input from a variety of key stakeholders, Strategic Plan 2018: For a Better Tomorrow is the district’s blueprint for building modern learning environments needed to prepare CMS’ students to compete successfully in the workforce of tomorrow. Among the strategic goals outlined by the plan are the creation of personalized, modern learning environments; the recruitment and development of a premier workforce; collaborative partnerships with families, business and community organizations; and the cultivation of an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit in students. CMS first launched its partnership with Discovery Education in 2008 in an effort to reinvent its K-8 science curriculum with the support of Discovery Education Science. The result after one year was a significant increase in science scores. In the 2012-13 school year, CMS integrated Discovery Education’s Science and Social Studies Techbooks into all of its middle schools as the first large scale pilot of digital resources. In the latest phase of this collaboration, CMS is now empowering teachers at all of its middle schools to transform math curriculum with the Discovery Education Math Techbook, and expanding access to Science Techbook to elementary educators and students in grades 3-5. In addition, educators districtwide will continue to enrich teaching and learning across all K-12 curricular areas with content from Discovery Education Streaming Plus, a comprehensive digital service that supplements instruction. “Every student in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools today will enter a workforce that will require 21st-century skills to compete successfully in the workforce of tomorrow. These skills include higher-level thinking, digital and technological competency, literacy and content mastery, creativity, innovation, communications and entrepreneurship,” said CMS Superintendent Ann Clark. “Our partnership with Discovery Education provides the digital instructional resources and professional development that empower our educators to ensure that every student in every school leaves CMS with those skills and competencies.” Developed by Discovery Education’s team of expert math educators with the input of teachers and administrators from across the country, Math Techbook uses a Discover, Practice, Apply inquiry-based cycle that is built on the three pillars of rigor: conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and application. Technology enhanced items and formative assessments are woven throughout the entire instructional cycle and teachers have a data dashboard to monitor student progress instantaneously. Courses include Grades 6, 7, and 8 Math; Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II; and Integrated Math: Math I, Math II, and Math III. Math Techbook engages students with real- world problems worth solving while supporting any device, anywhere, anytime in any secondary instructional setting. In addition to dynamic, standards-aligned content, interactives, videos, digital tools, and game-like activities that increase students’ motivation to learn math, Math Techbook includes useful student tools such as a graphing calculator, a geometry tool, a whiteboard tool, and a matrix solver. A Student Dashboard embedded within the Math Techbook helps students track their individual progress and take responsibility for their learning. To ensure each CMS teacher is fully supported in their transition to the Science and Math Techbooks, Discovery Education experts will provide faculty with high-quality professional development supporting the integration of the digital textbook into classroom practice. In addition, the Discovery Educator Network (DEN) will continue supporting CMS 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. “Discovery Education is proud to be a long-term partner in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ innovative efforts to prepare every child, every day, for a better tomorrow,” said Coni Rechner, senior vice president, Discovery Education. “Together, we are providing educators the exciting, cutting-edge resources they need to unlock every student’s full potential and prepare them to compete successfully in the workforce of tomorrow.” For more information about the Math Techbook, Science Techbook or other Discovery Education services, please visit www.discoveryeducation.com. About Discovery Education Discovery 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.