Discovery Communications : Iowa’s Cardinal Community School District Announces Collaboration with Discovery Education Supporting School System’s New Instructional Framework

- Digital Streaming Service and Science and Social Studies Digital Textbooks Set for Integration Into Classroom Instruction Across the School System-

Silver Spring, MD (April 20, 2017) - Iowa's Cardinal Community School District (CCSD) today announced a new partnership with Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms. Through this collaboration, CCSD educators will support the district's efforts to implement a new instructional framework by integrating Discovery Education's award-winning digital content into everyday classroom instruction.

CCSD educators district-wide are currently implementing the Gradual Release of Responsibility Framework (GRRF), a research-based method of teaching that provides students more targeted, individualized instruction. By delivering Discovery Education's dynamic digital content through Chromebooks provided to students through the district's 1-to-1 initiative, CCSD's educators will be positioned to support the GRRF's implementation with individualized instruction that develops the necessary skills and knowledge students need for future success.

Shortly, all CCSD's educators will begin integrating Discovery Education Streaming Plus, a comprehensive digital service supplementing instruction across all K-12 curricular areas, into classroom activities. In addition, educators teaching grades four through eight will also soon begin incorporating Discovery Education's award-winning Science Techbook ™ and Social Studies Techbook™ into teaching and learning.

Discovery Education's Techbooks are breakthrough digital textbooks that are aligned to rigorous standards, support a comprehensive curriculum, and are updated regularly at no cost. Utilizing an inquiry-based format built on the 5E model, Discovery Education's Science Techbook, through hands-on labs, digital explorations, an interactive glossary, and data analysis activities, helps teach students to read, write, and think like scientists. The Social Studies Techbook series 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 informational texts.

'At Cardinal Community School District, we are devoted to providing our students the necessary skills and knowledge to assure their success beyond graduation,' said CCSD Superintendent Joel Pederson. 'We believe our new collaboration with Discovery Education provides our educators the rich, flexible content they need to build engaging, individualized learning experiences.'

To ensure each CCSD educator is fully supported in their transition to using this new digital content, Discovery Education experts will provide district educators robust professional development opportunities that will help them maximize their new resources to improve students' academic achievement. Also, the Discovery Education Community will support CCSD's educators' efforts to 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.

'Discovery Education is excited to support the Cardinal Community School District's quest to foster a rich community of lifelong learners,' said Discovery Education Consultant Cara Delbaum. 'We look forward to working with Superintendent Pederson and his entire team to create authentic digital learning spaces that support the successful implementation of the Gradual Release of Responsibility Framework.'

For more information about Discovery Education Techbooks, Discovery Education Streaming Plus, or other services and resources from Discovery Education, visit www.discoveryeducation.com.

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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 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students, Discovery Education's services are in half of U.S. classrooms, 50 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.

Link to press release here: http://www.discoveryeducation.com/aboutus/newsArticle.cfm?news_id=1117