SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES DISCOVERY EDUCATION SCIENCE TECHBOOK FOR STATEWIDE USE IN GRADES K-8 AND HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY CLASSROOMS Shawnee Cohn, Discovery Education240-662-2661shawnee_cohn@discovery.com – South Carolina Educators Empowered to Create Engaging, Technology-Rich Learning Environments by Adoption of Award-Winning Digital Science Textbook – SILVER SPRING, Md. (December 10, 2015) – Following a comprehensive evaluation, the South Carolina State Board of Education has approved the Discovery Education Science Techbook™ for statewide use as a core instructional resource 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 professional development. The South Carolina State Board of Education adopted all elementary and middle school Discovery Education Science Techbook courses, as well as the Biology course for high school. School districts across South Carolina can now use State Board of Education approved instructional materials funding to purchase and implement the award-winning Discovery Education Science Techbook, an interactive digital solution that replaces traditional textbooks. The digital textbook is fully aligned to the South Carolina Academic Standards and Performance Indicators for Science. “Discovery Education’s Science Techbook has the power to advance achievement when used by talented educators who are deeply committed to student success and passionate about transforming the learning experience with digital media,” said Dr. Harriet Jaworowski, Associate Superintendent for Instruction and Accountability, Rock Hill Schools, South Carolina. “Our partnership with Discovery Education has empowered our teachers with high-quality resources and professional development to create the dynamic digital learning environments our students demand and deserve.” 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, 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. 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. “By adopting Science Techbook as a core instructional resource, the South Carolina State Board of Education is helping bring the world of science to life for every type of learner in the state,” said Rob Warren, Director of Education Partnerships at Discovery Education. “South Carolina’s educators are working tirelessly to create dynamic learning environments that support academic achievement and we look forward to supporting their efforts with effective, research-based professional development and engaging digital resources like 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 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 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.