Discovery Communications : North Carolina’s Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Begin New Partnership with Discovery Education Supporting Mobile Learning Communities Initiative

-Dynamic Digital Textbooks and Professional Development to be Implemented in Conjunction with District's Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Initiative-

Silver Spring, Md. (August 18, 2016) - North Carolina's Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, today announced a new, three-year partnership bringing students and educators dynamic digital resources and customized professional development that supports its new Mobile Learning Communities (MLCs) initiative.

Through this new collaboration, WS/FCS educators will, beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, integrate Discovery Education's Science Techbook (Grades 5-12), Social Studies Techbook (Grades 6-8) and Math Techbook (Middle and High School) into classroom instruction. In addition, all K-12 classrooms across the district will have access to Discovery Education Streaming Plus, a comprehensive digital service supplementing instruction across all K-12 curricular areas.

This new partnership directly supports the district's Mobile Learning Communities (MLCs) initiative. Launched during the 2013-2014 school year, this effort encourages students districtwide to use their own devices for learning. The goals of the program are to enhance student achievement, creativity, communication and collaboration through the integration of technology into instruction; help students achieve media literacy mastery and develop positive digital footprints; improve student engagement and extend learning beyond the classroom; and provide a digital-rich learning environment for all students.

'The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System seeks to leverage the power of technology to transform education and change the way we teach, learn and communicate every day,' said Dr. Beverly Emory, Superintendent of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. 'We are excited to partner with Discovery Education to support this vision. We believe this new collaboration empowers our teachers and administrators to work more productively, encourage student creativity and self-direction, and help all learners develop the skills necessary for responsible citizenship.'

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. The series encourages all learners through interactive features that change the reading level of text and enable text to be read aloud. The Techbook series saves teachers' time with a comprehensive design that places model lessons, student activities and assessments at their fingertips. Techbooks are platform neutral and can be used in 1:1 or 1-to-many configurations and in any instructional environment.

The Social Studies Techbook series uses an inquiry-based instructional approach that emphasizes informational text literacy and the 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, a multimedia reference library, interactive maps and informational texts. Utilizing an inquiry-based format built on the 5E model, the 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. Math Techbook, the latest addition to Discovery Education's award-winning line of digital textbooks, transforms the way students and teachers experience math through engaging instructional strategies and real-world problems that motivate and excite students with diverse learning styles.

To ensure each WS/FCS teacher is fully supported in their transition to the Techbooks, Discovery Education experts will provide faculty with high-quality professional development supporting the integration of the digital textbook into classroom practice. In addition, the Discovery Education Community will support WS/FCS educators' efforts to transform students' learning experiences with 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.

'We are honored to be a part of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools' efforts to create dynamic digital learning environments that support the success of all learners,' said Shayla Rexrode, Manager of Education Partnerships at Discovery Education. 'The Mobile Learning Communities initiative illustrates the district's deep commitment to helping each student achieve their maximum potential, and we look forward to continuing to support their efforts in the future.'

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, 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.