PG Schools, Discovery Education Expand Partnership

Prince George’s County Public Schools, one of the nation’s largest school districts, and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, announced today an expansion of their 10-year partnership.

In this new phase of collaboration, Discovery Education will present the largest professional development event in the school system’s history, as well as provide students access to high-quality Science digital textbooks in the 2014-2015 school year. 

On Monday, June 16, at nine sites across the district, more than 100 experts from Discovery Education will collaborate with PGCPS education specialists to present a unique professional development event. All of the district’s 9,000 educators will learn new strategies and tactics for using digital resources to enhance student learning and effectively integrate Maryland’s College and Career-Ready Standards into classroom instruction. 

In addition, throughout the day, educators will learn how to use Discovery Education’s digital content and other educational technologies to promote creativity and problem-solving, support literacy standards, and inspire curiosity in their students.  Informative sessions on topics including evidence-based reading, purposeful assessments, using texts and tasks with rigor and complexity will also be presented, showcasing creative ways to implement the latest innovations in teaching and learning to engage students and accelerate achievement.  

This expanded partnership also provides PGCPS students in grades K-8 access to the Discovery Education Science Techbook. Discovery Education’s digital textbook series delivers individualized resources and engages students in learning concepts through rich digital assets, including virtual labs, video clips, an interactive glossary, and more. 

“PGCPS is committed to preparing all students to graduate career or workforce ready,” said Dr. Kevin M. Maxwell, PGCPS CEO. “To achieve this goal, we must improve the quality of teaching in every classroom, equip teachers with the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities, and ensure that all facets of the system support teachers in this goal. Discovery Education shares our commitment to this mission, and we look forward to continuing to build on what has been a very successful relationship.”

Since 2004, PGCPS educators and students have utilized Discovery Education Streaming Plus, a comprehensive digital library of over 100,000 learning objects that enhance curriculum and support all subject areas and learning styles. The Discovery Educator Network (DEN) also supports PGCPS educators in their efforts to transform the learning experience with digital media.  A global community of education professionals, the DEN 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. 

For more information about Discovery Education’s professional development services, the Discovery Education Techbook series, or other services and resources from Discovery Education, visit www.discoveryeducation.com.