DISCOVERY EDUCATION TRANSFORMS SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM WITH ENGAGING DIGITAL TEXTBOOK FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts:Heidi May, Discovery Education240-662-2661heidi_may@discovery.com Sara Schapiro, Digital Promise202-833-7432sara@digitalpromise.org – Through a partnership with the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools, middle schools invited to participate in Social Studies Techbook™ beta program to bring learning alive and support the Common Core State Standards – Silver Spring, Md. (September 26, 2012) – Discovery Education has partnered with the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools to bring its new digital social studies textbook to classrooms. Social Studies Techbook™ transforms teaching and learning through a dynamic, interactive platform that links to historical resources; features activities that make students think, do and develop arguments supported by evidence; and provides students with 21st century skills needed for college and to compete in today`s global economy. The partnership is designed to support the Common Core State Standards and help schools meet the Obama Administration`s mandate to get digital resources in students` hands within five years. Middle schools that are part of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools are invited to participate in a Social Studies Techbook™ beta program for the 2012-2013 school year. A complete digital solution that replaces traditional textbooks, Social Studies Techbook™ features an innovative multimedia reference library that links key documents to people and places; interactive maps, digital explorations and activities; primary source documents; and informational text. Techbook™ is built on an inquiry framework and is designed to support multiple reading levels and languages, promote personalized learning via different pathways through content, inspire curiosity, encourage critical thinking and enable project-based learning. It includes resources for United States History, World History and World Geography and Cultures courses. The first social studies programs built from scratch specifically to facilitate the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, Techbook™ includes detailed lesson plans and model lessons that save teachers valuable time. It also includes an assessment component that measures students` progress and recommends individualized resources that reinforce classroom instruction. Techbook™ is platform independent. It works with any device, including iPads, tablets, laptops or desktop computers, making efficient use of a district’s existing technology, further reducing costs. “Mooresville Graded School District had the opportunity to pilot Discovery Education`s Science Techbook last school year. Our teachers love the digital textbook, and we saw substantial gains in student achievement,” said Dr. Mark Edwards, superintendent of Mooresville Graded School District and a member of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools. “We are very excited about the partnership between Discovery Education and the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools and the opportunity to participate in the Social Studies Techbook beta program with other League members.” “The Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools is thrilled to partner with Discovery Education to bring its innovative digital social studies textbook to teachers and students,” said Adam Frankel, executive director of Digital Promise. “Digital tools can improve student achievement, and integrating these tools into instruction is critical to transform teaching and learning and help students gain the knowledge and skills they need for college and a career.” For schools participating in the beta program, Discovery Education experts will provide professional development throughout the school year to support educators as they integrate Social Studies Techbook™ into their instruction. Discovery Education launched its revolutionary digital textbook series in the fall of 2011 with a Techbook™ for K-8 science. Proven to increase student engagement and achievement, Discovery Education announced in March 2012 the expansion of the series to include middle school social studies and high school science subjects. For more information about Discovery Education`s Social Studies Techbook™, visit www.discoveryeducation.com. About Discovery EducationDiscovery Education transforms classrooms, empowers teachers and captivates students by providing high quality, dynamic, digital content for grades K-12 and community colleges. Powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world, Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital media, professional development, assessment tools and a passionate educator network to support districts in accelerating student achievement. Discovery Education services like Discovery Education streaming, Discovery Education Techbook and Discovery Education Higher Ed, are in more than half of all US schools and 35 countries around the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com. About Digital PromiseDigital Promise is an independent, bipartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered by Congress to spur innovation in education. About the Digital Promise League of Innovative SchoolsThe Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools is a national coalition of public school districts committed to digital innovation that delivers results for students. The League is made up of 28 school districts and education groups in 18 states that collectively serve more than 2.5 million students. ###