Kansas’ Emporia Public Schools Are Driving Deeper Student Engagement in Science and Social Studies Through New Partnership with Discovery Education – High-Quality Content and Professional Learning Help District Educators Build Dynamic Digital Learning Environments Supporting the Success of All Learners- Silver Spring, MD (November 6, 2018)– Through a new partnership with Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, Kansas’ Emporia Public Schools (EPS) is driving deeper student engagement in science and social studies lessons in classrooms across the district. Supported by Discovery Education’s unique blend of high-quality digital content and professional learning, the Emporia Public Schools are building dynamic digital learning environments that support the success of all learners. Located between Topeka and Witchita, EPS seeks to provide the approximately 4,600 students it serves classroom experiences that demonstrate a balance of cognitive and social emotional development. Understanding that the key to driving increased student development is deeper student engagement, EPS partnered with Discovery Education to create science and social studies learning environments that mirror students’ interactions with technology outside the classroom. This initiative kicked-off at the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year, when Discovery Education’s award-winning Science and Social Studies Techbooks were introduced into district classrooms. Now integrated into science instruction in all K-12 science lessons, Discovery Education’s Science Techbook utilizes an inquiry-based format built on the Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate (5E) model, and includes rich, standards-aligned content such as video, audio, text, interactives with hands-on activities, and virtual labs that help educators differentiate instruction and provide a rich and engaging learning experience for students. Additional student features include bilingual text-to-speech and leveled reading tools, and note-taking and highlighting capabilities. The Science Techbooks series also includes valuable STEM/STEAM resources. Discovery Education’s Social Studies Techbook, which is now used in all middle school social studies classrooms, uses an inquiry-based instructional approach that emphasizes informational text literacy, analytical writing, and problem-solving skills that students will apply in the classroom and beyond. Each subject area includes primary source documents and activities, digital investigations, multimedia reference library, interactive maps, and more. Discovery Education Streaming Plus, the comprehensive digital service that has helped EPS’s educators build students’ mastery in interpreting, understanding, and evaluating information since 2010 will continue to be used by educators across the district’s 11 schools. “Each day the great team at the Emporia Public Schools comes to work with one mission in mind–to help each one of our students prepare today for tomorrow’s opportunities,” said EPS Superintendent Kevin Case. “In partnership with Discovery Education, we are building exciting digital classrooms that are engaging students and opening their minds to all the great possibilities in their future. This program initiative is off to a great start, and we look forward to the future successes of this effort.” To ensure EPS teachers are optimizing their new Techbooks, Discovery Education’s professional learning team supported district educators during their transition to digital teaching and learning. Through the robust professional learning opportunities offered by these experts, EPS educators learned to maximize their new digital content to improve student academic achievement. In addition, EPS’s educators will also be supported by the Discovery Education Community as they transform students’ learning experiences with dynamic digital media. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Education Community 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. “The Emporia Public Schools have shown tremendous leadership in creating enriching, digital learning environments that parallels students’ use of technology in their lives outside the classroom,” said Discovery Education Partnership Manager Steven Weniger. “Superintendent Case, Executive Director of Elementary Education Vicki Schweinler, Executive Director of Secondary Education Wade Redeker, and the entire EPS team have shown wonderful vision and foresight throughout the planning of this initiative, and Discovery Education is proud to be a part of this effort.” For more information about Discovery Education’s digital resources and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Facebook, follow us on Twitter at @DiscoveryEd, or find us on Instagram and Pinterest. ### About Discovery Education As the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12 classrooms worldwide, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional learning, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students, Discovery Education’s services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools in the UK, and more than 50 countries around the globe. Inspired by the global media company Discovery Inc., 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. Explore the future of education at DiscoveryEducation.com.