Miami-Dade County Public Schools Continue to Broaden Students` World through Expanded Partnership with Discovery Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Contact:Stephen Wakefield, Discovery Education
240-662-2893
[email protected]

Sandy Fash, C. Blohm & Associates
608-839-9800
[email protected]

— Unique mix of content, guest speakers, curriculum alignment, and professional development services combine to increase student engagement —

Silver Spring, Md. (June 28, 2010) – Miami-Dade County Public Schools (Fla.) has expanded its partnership with Discovery Education to broaden student horizons and improve academic achievement. Through a unique combination of Discovery Education`s digital content, access to guest lecturers, curriculum mapping, and professional development, this partnership supports educators in Miami-Dade County Public Schools as they fulfill the district`s mission to empower students to lead productive and fulfilling lives as lifelong learners and responsible citizens.

“As stewards of our children`s educational futures, our school system has the responsibility to partner with organizations that appreciate the way today`s children learn,” said Miami-Dade County Public Schools superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. “We are excited to expand our relationship with Discovery Education as they understand how to engage today`s tech-savvy children in learning, and share our vision of providing educational excellence for all.”

To meet their goal of providing students access to the highest quality educational resources, Miami-Dade County Public Schools has expanded implementation of Discovery Education streaming Plus to all 153 Title I middle and high schools. Discovery Education streaming Plus has more than 150,000 digital learning objects, is aligned to state standards and assessments, and is searchable by keyword, content area and grade level.

The district also is implementing in all Title I secondary schools Discovery Education Science, which empowers educators to quickly locate and employ a variety of dynamic multimedia resources to engage students in science. Organized around an inquiry-based framework, Discovery Education Science covers physical, earth and space, and life sciences.

Discovery Education also is partnering with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to bring guest lecturers, such as chief spokesperson for environmental education Philippe Cousteau, to Miami-Dade students.

“When students can learn about marine biology from someone who has led expeditions all over the world, then actually be transported, via digital content, to the habitats of the creatures being discussed, then you`ve really harnessed the power of digital content to teach children any number of valuable lessons,” continued Carvalho.

In addition to providing dynamic and engaging content, Discovery Education`s Curriculum Alignment team analyzed district pacing guides, determined the best digital assets to meet teaching objectives, and embedded those assets directly into the pacing guides. Discovery Education`s Professional Development team also is providing each Title I school two full professional development days to ensure educators have ample opportunity to learn how to utilize new technologies and integrate them into district curricula.

“The evolution of classroom instruction is being paced by today`s technology fluent students,” said Millie Fornell, Miami-Dade County Public Schools chief academic officer. “By proactively aligning our digital content to district pacing guides, and through our professional development partnership, we are positioning ourselves as national leaders in creating an atmosphere in which each educator can maximize educational technologies to improve student achievement.”

Discovery Education also continues to build capacity and to support educators in Miami-Dade County Public Schools with one of the nation`s largest professional learning communities, the Discovery Educator Network (DEN). Through the more than 125,000 member-strong DEN, educators have access to a wide range of technology training as well as a resource library of teacher-generated projects and tools.

“Educational technologies, such as digital content, provide an enormous opportunity for educators to take their students beyond the four walls of their classrooms to places they may not otherwise see,” explained Sylvia Diaz, Miami-Dade County Public School chief information officer. “By working with Discovery Education, we are able to leverage today`s technologies to satisfy the natural curiosity in each of our students.”

For more information about Discovery Education, visit www.discoveryeducation.com.

About Discovery Education
Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) revolutionized television with Discovery Channel and is now transforming classrooms through Discovery Education. Powered by the number one nonfiction media company in the world, Discovery Education combines scientifically proven, standards-based digital media and a dynamic user community in order to empower teachers to improve student achievement. Already, more than half of all U.S. schools access Discovery Education digital services. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

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