DISCOVERY EDUCATION SCIENCE TECHBOOK APPROVED FOR STATEWIDE USE IN K-12 CLASSROOMS BY WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Elizabeth Hillman, Discovery Education(240) 662-2664, Elizabeth_hillman@discovery.com Stephen Wakefield, Discovery Education240-662-5563, Stephen_Wakefield@discovery.com -Adoption of Interactive Science Techbook Empowers West Virginia Educators With Digital Resources to Transform Science Instruction- Silver Spring, Md. (February 2, 2016) – Following a thorough evaluation, the West Virginia Department of Education has approved the Discovery Education Science Techbook™ for use as a core instructional resource for elementary, middle, and high school science courses through its state adoption process. An award-winning digital textbook series, Discovery Education’s Techbooks are aligned to rigorous standards, support a comprehensive curriculum, and include robust professional development. The West Virginia Department of Education adopted all elementary, middle and high school Discovery Education Science Techbook courses, including Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, and Physics, with 100% coverage of West Virginia’s Next Generation Content Standards and Objectives for Science. Discovery Education’s award-winning Science Techbook has now been added to the West Virginia Department of Education’s Official Multiple List of Approved Resources, which school districts statewide use to identify the instructional resources that best meet the needs of their students. “Science Techbook’s high-quality digital content engages and inspires today’s tech-savvy students in exciting new ways that transform classroom instruction,” said Kristi Tankersley, Title I Reading Specialist, Pocahontas County Schools, WV. “This resource helps our educators create the modern digital learning environments that build the skills our students need for college, careers, and citizenship.” A complete digital solution built from the ground-up, Discovery Education’s Science Techbook series helps educators 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, and interactives with hands-on activities, as well as virtual labs that help educators differentiate instruction and provide a rich, engaging learning experiences for all 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. A study conducted by independent research firm Merola Research, LLC found that usage of Science Techbook is associated with higher science achievement scores in South Carolina elementary school students. After one year of implementation in the state’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. Discovery Education understands that teacher engagement is critical to implementing successful learning initiatives. Therefore, all Techbooks include research-based professional development that supports educators as they integrate new digital content and resources into classroom instruction. The Discovery Educator Network (DEN), a global community of education professionals, further connects teachers and administrators around the world with social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events that inspire innovation and facilitates idea sharing. “The West Virginia Department of Education’s adoption of the Science Techbook for statewide use is the latest indication of the nationwide shift to digital content as a core instructional resource,” said Kelly Burleson, Manager of Education Partnerships at Discovery Education. “While Discovery Education has for years partnered with school systems across the state to provide dynamic digital content and professional development that supports the success of all learners, we now also look forward to transforming science instruction with the Science Techbook.” For more information about Discovery Education’s 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 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.