Press Category: On the Wire

Lubbock, TX – September 30, 2025 – As Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs continue to expand and grow in importance, CTE leaders across the country rely on the Eduthings platform to easily and securely manage, analyze, and report on CTE data related to the things that matter most: industry-based certifications, work-based learning (WBL), career and technical student organizations (CTSOs), advisory boards, and inventory. Now, the groundbreaking platform from iCEV includes even more features to increase educator efficiency and, importantly, drive student agency.

“It is important for CTE leaders to have a way to continually track CTE data and outcomes and gain insights directly from students so they can adjust their programming as needed,” said Clayton Franklin, Chief Product Officer of iCEV. “Eduthings helps with that. With its latest updates and robust data management and reporting capabilities, Eduthings allows CTE leaders to truly analyze and share the data they are collecting so they can better serve their students.”  

In addition to accessibility improvements, the new Eduthings features include:

• Student-Entered CTSO Participation: Students can now directly enter their own participation in student organizations, helping to drive student agency and ensure data completeness.
• Student Journaling for WBL: Students can journal about their WBL experiences, giving educators more insight into how students perceive the value and relevance of these real-world opportunities
• Student Industry Certification Uploads: Students can upload images or documents of their earned certifications to help save teachers time and administrative work.

The platform will additionally include expanded CTSO and student organization types, student organization reporting enhancements, a WBL job opportunities search tool, and header navigation improvements for use this school year.

Innovative school districts nationwide—including Aldine Independent School District, Dallas Independent School District, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools—currently use Eduthings to collect, analyze, and share CTE data based on courses, programs of study, students, teachers, and more, as well as to consolidate reporting based on CTE program indicators such as CTE completers/concentrators and CTSO participation. It additionally helps administrators develop reports for various compliance regulations, including those for Perkins V CLNA, state accountability, school and advisory boards, and more. 

“As we continue to evolve to keep up with labor markets, we’re consistently evaluating student engagement and pathways. This is where Eduthings became a vital source to us,” said Brooke Martin, executive director of CTE at Aldine Independent School District in Houston, Texas. “This data management tool allows us to monitor our students in their pathways and identify other industry opportunities for them. We also utilize Eduthings to monitor industry certifications to ensure every student graduates with as many choices and opportunities possible.”

Eduthings is backed by iCEV’s leading customer support and service. The iCEV team has decades of technical expertise and is committed to ensuring the success of CTE programs.

To learn more about Eduthings, visit www.icevonline.com/eduthings. To see the platform in action, go here. 

About iCEV and Eduthings
iCEV offers Eduthings, a powerful data management platform designed to streamline reporting for key components of Career and Technical Education (CTE), including industry certifications, work-based learning, and participation in Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs).

Since 1984, iCEV has been a trusted leader in CTE, delivering high-quality curriculum and educational resources that empower educators and students alike. As the most comprehensive online platform for CTE, iCEV provides standards-aligned curriculum across a wide range of subject areas, including agricultural science, trade & industrial education, business & marketing, career exploration, family & consumer science, health science, law enforcement and STEM education.

In addition to curriculum, iCEV serves as a certification testing platform for a growing number of recognized industry credentials. Leading companies and organizations choose iCEV to deliver and manage their certification exams. For more information, visit www.icevonline.com.

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Washington, D.C. (September 29, 2025) – CoSN today released its 2025 CoSN Blaschke Report, Screens in Balance: Education, Technology and Community Conversations. The report and tools examine the different ways screens appear in classrooms and homes and explore how educators, families and policymakers can work together to navigate their inevitable impact on children.

The report aims to clarify the term “screen time” as it relates to children in K-12 education. In public debates, the term is often used without distinction, making thoughtful, constructive conversations among stakeholders more difficult. To focus the discussion, the report identifies three primary forms of screen use in K-12 education — each with distinct risks and opportunities:

• Smart Phones and Social Media — A source of national debate, with states and districts enacting new restrictions that cite distraction, safety and mental health concerns.
• Educational Technology (EdTech) — Tools designed for instructional purposes, offering powerful opportunities for differentiation, accessibility, enrichment and workforce preparation when used with intention and balance.
• Screen-Based Entertainment — Media that shape children’s long-term technology habits before they even enter school, often influencing how families interpret educational screen use.

The report also underscores the role of educators — both classroom teachers and site leaders — as public-facing figures at the intersection of policy debates and on-the-ground implementation. Consistent, thoughtful communication, paired with high-quality, well-structured instruction, builds community trust and supports positive academic outcomes. As conversations about screens and EdTech evolve, educators should use technology purposefully and clearly communicate its impact and effectiveness to families.

Key Recommendations for Educators

The report highlights practical steps schools can take to build public trust and use technology effectively:

• Teacher Development — Provide both new and experienced teachers with ongoing, context-specific professional development for using EdTech effectively.
• Modeling Digital Literacy and Citizenship — Teach and model digital citizenship, showing students how to balance the academic and social dimensions of screen use.
• Administrative Coherence and Clarity — Ensure school and district leaders articulate a clear vision for how screens fit into instruction, aligning decisions with both local needs and community expectations.

This report was made possible with the support of key partners, including AASA, The School Superintendents Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the National Education Association (NEA), the National PTA and the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA).

“Screens in Balance is arriving at just the right time for this debate over cell phones at school, giving educators practical tools to engage families and communities in thoughtful conversations about technology in learning. We’re grateful to our many partners who helped shape this important resource,” said Keith Krueger, CEO, CoSN.

“I am thrilled to finally release CoSN’s 2025 Blaschke Report and Screen Time Toolkit to the public. As a current classroom teacher trained during COVID lockdowns, I felt it necessary to center this work around the needs of practitioners during this era in American K-12 education. My hope is that these publications support educators in leading thoughtful, nuanced and effective conversations with their communities about technology use,” said Cooper Sved, 2025 Charles Blaschke Scholarship Fellow and Author of the 2025 CoSN Blaschke Report.

“It is hard to believe that this year marks the fifth year of the Blaschke Fellow program and report. My husband, Charles, would be so honored to know that his commitment to the evolution of education technology policy and research continues through the excellent work of Blaschke Fellows like Cooper Sved,” said Kathy Hurley, CEO, Kathy Hurley Consulting, and Former EVP, Pearson Foundation. “Sved’s research and report could not be more timely as school districts around the country are seeking to appropriately incorporate screens for educational purposes while also acknowledging the need for limitations to technology use.”

As part of this work, CoSN also released a Screen Time Toolkit. The toolkit is designed to support educators in navigating conversations about screen use within their school communities and includes adaptable resources — such as screen-time presentations, cheat sheets for educators, teacher self-reflection frameworks and an Administrative EdTech Audit — to align classroom practice with family understanding. A compelling series of blog posts also is available on the CoSN website exploring aspects of this topic.

The complete report, including the toolkit and blog posts, is available for free download here: https://www.cosn.org/2025-blaschke-report-toolkit/

About CoSN

CoSN, the world-class professional association for K-12 EdTech leaders, stands at the forefront of education innovation. We are driven by a mission to equip current and aspiring K-12 education technology leaders, their teams, and school districts with the community, knowledge, and professional development they need to cultivate engaging learning environments. Our vision is rooted in a future where every learner reaches their unique potential, guided by our community. CoSN represents over 13 million students and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. cosn.org

About The CoSN Blaschke Fellowship Fund

The Blaschke Fund was created by CoSN to support emerging leaders in education technology policy and advocacy. This memorial fund honors the late industry giant Charles Blaschke, who conducted pioneering research and analysis on the ever-changing U.S. education landscape for over 50 years. Through the fellowship, graduate students have the opportunity to develop research along with CoSN in topics related to digital equity, protecting privacy of education data, enabling accessibility or other key topics. cosn.org/the-blaschke-fund/

MEDIA CONTACT:

Makenzie Carlin, mcarlin@fratelli.com

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Charlotte, NC (Monday, September 29, 2025) – Discovery Education, the creator of essential PreK-12 learning solutions used in classrooms around the world, today presented the Fall 2025 schedule of free-to-use Virtual Field Trips. These virtual events engage today’s students through exciting connections to real-world learning experiences. 

The new line-up of virtual field trips provide students and teachers unique learning opportunities that come complete with high-quality instructional materials. In order of the premiere date, the new virtual field trips include: 

Forging Innovation: A Mission Possible Virtual Field Trip  
Premieres: October 9, 2025  
Grades 6-12 

Journey into the world of steel—one of the most essential and versatile materials in modern society. During this new virtual field trip, students will explore how steel is made from raw materials, how its properties can be altered through different processes, and why it’s a cornerstone of innovation in architecture and structural engineering. Through real-world examples and design challenges, students discover how engineers and architects use steel to solve complex problems. This content is available from the STEM Careers Coalition, an alliance of industries and non-profit organizations, reaching 15M+ students with equitable access to STEM resources and career connections since its launch in 2019. 

Nature’s Blueprint:  A Virtual Field Trip 
Premieres: October 21, 2025  
Grades 6-12 

In Nature’s Blueprint: A Virtual Field Trip, students explore how genetic mutations influence the traits of living organisms and contribute to groundbreaking medical discoveries. Along the way, students encounter animals with remarkable traits and see how space-based genetic research is helping scientists better understand our environment and life on Earth. This is from DNA Decoded, a program in partnership with Illumina, that inspires students to investigate genomics and explore new career pathways with standards-aligned STEM resources. 

Careers at Sea and Shore: A Virtual Field Trip to Maritime Manufacturing Centers 
Premieres: October 29, 2025 
Grades 6-12 

This virtual field trip shows students the world of marine innovation as they explore how submarines are built and the amazing careers behind them. Discover how the healthy, drug-free choices you make today can lead to meaningful and rewarding careers in the future. Students meet engineers, welders, and technicians who are creating future national security systems that can operate underwater. This virtual field trip, funded through the Defense Department’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program, is part of Operation Prevention, a program with the Drug Enforcement Administration providing no-cost online tools that support every member of the community with the power of prevention.  

Amphibian Adventures: A Build the Change Virtual Field Trip to the Georgia Wetlands  
Premieres: December 4, 2025 
Grades 3-8 

Join the LEGO Group and Discovery Education as we head to Jekyll Island and the Okefenokee Swamp to learn about the lifecycle and habitat of everyone’s favorite web-footed friend: frogs. As an indicator species, frogs can tell us a lot about the health of an entire ecosystem—what’s working and what’s not. “Hop” aboard a swamp boat to explore frog conservation efforts, including ways to help frogs in your community. This Virtual Field Trip is part of Build the Change, a program with the LEGO Group celebrating the power of play to boost learning and improve the world around you. 

Meet a Solar Telescope: A Virtual Field Trip to the U.S. National Science Foundation Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope 
Premiered: September 17, 2025  
Grades K-5 

The Meet a Solar Telescope Virtual Field Trip with Sesame Workshop and the National Science Foundation gives students a close up look at the Sun itself as classrooms are brought to the top of a volcano in Maui, Hawai’i – home to the largest and most powerful solar telescope in the world. Students hear from real-life scientists and engineers who study the Sun as they learn about its importance to the world around us and see how the Sun is honored in Hawaiian culture. Discover more resources from the Why in Our World program designed to help connect STEM concepts to the world. 

The Superpower of Story: A Virtual Field Trip to Warner Bros. Studios 
Premiered: April 18, 2025 
Grades 6-12 

In the Superpower of Story: A Virtual Field Trip to Warner Bros. Studios, students journey to DC headquarters at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, to into the world of legendary DC Super Heroes uncovering the secrets of how stories evolve, from bold ideas to iconic comics and animated series to jaw-dropping live-action spectacles on the big screen. Along the way, students hear from the creative minds who shape the DC Universe and get an insider’s look at the magic that brings their favorite characters to life. 

Educators can sign-up their classrooms to attend all these virtual field trips using the registration page here. Each virtual field trip is available on-demand at no-cost after its release at 7 AM ET of the premiere date. Additional resources to support learning, such as a standards-aligned companion guide with hands-on activities and educator support content. Discover more Discovery Education virtual field trips here or on the Virtual Field Trips channel on the essential classroom companion, Discovery Education Experience. 

“Research shows that students both need and want engaging classroom experiences that connect learning to the wider world. Virtual field trips offer educators a free and enjoyable way to spark student engagement while providing powerful, real-world learning opportunities,” said Jamie Jenkins, Senior Director of Instructional Design at Discovery Education. 

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.  

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Charlotte, NC (Thursday, September 25, 2025) – Four of Discovery Education’s products have been named as finalists in the 2025 CODiE Awards. The CODiE Awards are the premier peer-recognized program celebrating innovation and excellence in education and business technology.  

Each year, industry experts evaluate products for their innovation, impact, and overall value. This year, the CODiE Awards honored the following Discovery Education products as finalists in the following categories: 

Discovery Education Experience in the Best Education Platform category 

The essential companion for engaged classrooms, Discovery Education Experience is a supplemental cross-curricular digital resource that inspires teachers, motivates students, and supports instruction in science, social studies, and all other academic disciplines. Designed expressly for K-12 schools, Experience delivers all-in-one, ready-to-teach lessons and strategies, exciting career exploration resources, standards-aligned content, and flexible tools for differentiation and assessment. 

DreamBox Math in the Best Mathematics Instructional Solution category 

DreamBox Math by Discovery Education is a K-8 online math program that supplements core instruction in the classroom or at home and is independently proven by several third-party research organizations to increase math achievement. DreamBox Math by Discovery Education adapts dynamically to the learner, providing tailored instruction within a highly engaging, gamified learning environment. DreamBox Math lessons are available in both English and Spanish and are standards-aligned. 

Along with actionable reporting and tools that empower differentiation for all learners, DreamBox Math offers teachers content-specific professional learning and provides administrators critical insights into student progress. With DreamBox Math, every student is empowered to independently engage in interactive problem solving so they can develop conceptual understanding, apply a variety of strategies, and gain competence and confidence in mathematical reasoning and skills. 

Sandbox in the Best Immersive Learning Solution or Best XR/VR/MR Solution category 

Sandbox enables students to create virtual worlds using unique objects from history, science, nature, and more. Available on the Google Play store and Apple App store, Sandbox gives students new ways to express themselves and demonstrate their learning through features like photo taking or annotations on virtual text panels. Designed to create immersive experiences, Sandbox offers a mode that allows users to explore and create content from inside their own virtual environments.  Sandbox also includes many pre-built sandboxes exploring diverse subjects, such as ancient Egypt, space exploration, Maya civilization, road construction, and more, with additional themed 3D models added regularly. Finally, subscribers to Discovery Education Experience have access to additional, standards-aligned ready-to-use Sandbox lessons that enhance classroom instruction. 

Career Connect in the Best Career and Technical Education (CTE) Solution category  

Available through Discovery Education Experience, Career Connect promotes student curiosity by connecting classroom learning to potential careers. Through Career Connect, educators request virtual classroom visits from industry professionals, selecting from an array of job types, industries, languages, and locations. Then, students meet with professionals from industries like biotechnology, science, finance, computer engineering, human resources, education, and more, exploring potential career pathways through these interactions. 

 “Discovery Education thanks the CODiE Award judges for their thoughtful evaluation of each submission. We are honored to be named as finalists for our math, career exploration, immersive learning, and cross-curricular solutions,” said Brian Shaw, Chief Executive Officer at Discovery Education. “We will use this recognition as motivation to continue innovating on behalf of educators and students everywhere.” 

The winners will be announced on October 22, 2025. For more information about the CODiE Awards and to view all finalists, visit codieawards.com. 

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.  

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Minneapolis, MN – September 24, 2025 – Reflection Sciences is proud to announce a new partnership with The Family Partnership (TFP) of Minneapolis, becoming the exclusive distributor of TFP’s EGG Toolkit—a scientifically grounded executive function (EF) and self-regulation curriculum for children ages 3 to 5.

EGG Toolkit, short for Empowering Generational Greatness, was developed by John Everett Till and Christine Wing, CCC-SLP, Ph.D., in collaboration with early childhood educators and leading experts in brain science, child development, and curriculum design. Research and pilot partners include the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, the University of Minnesota’s Center for Early Education and Development, Reflection Sciences, and others.

EGG Toolkit is Parent Aware-certified as an aligned early childhood curriculum in Minnesota, meaning it meets some of the most stringent quality rating and improvement standards in the country. EGG Toolkit is the only early childhood curriculum of its kind validated with the Minnesota Executive Function Scale (MEFS), developed by Reflection Sciences. Together with MEFS, EGG Toolkit provides educators and families with both a way to measure executive function skills, and a curriculum to improve them.

“At The Family Partnership, our commitment has always been to building strong families, vital communities, and better futures for children. That’s why we are thrilled to partner with Reflection Sciences to scale the impact of EGG Toolkit, a curriculum rooted in a 2Gen approach that supports both children’s learning and parents’ engagement while meeting rigorous scientific standards and the practical needs of educators and families,” said Emily Larson, CEO of The Family Partnership.

EGG Toolkit’s lessons are science-backed, flexible, and designed to be implemented in as little as 30 minutes per day. It works through three primary domains: language (especially “internal state language” so children can name and discuss feelings or thoughts), storytelling (helping children narrate personal or group stories, reflect on behavior, build narrative complexity), and mindfulness practices (pausing, breathing, re-setting oneself in stressful moments).

“Our mission is to ensure every child gets the executive function support they need to thrive, and together with TFP we can do that in powerful ways that weren’t possible before. This is the beginning of something big,” said Isaac D. Van Wesep, CEO of Reflection Sciences.

Reflection Sciences will be responsible for bringing EGG Toolkit to early childhood education programs in the United States, including training and professional development. This partnership aims to improve EF support for children, with the goal of changing trajectories for school readiness, emotional well-being, and long-term outcomes.

About the Creators:

EGG Toolkit was co-created by John Everett Till and Christine Wing, CCC-SLP, Ph.D., with primary authorship credited to Christine Wing (and John Everett Till for strategic oversight / design partnership) as the curricular creator.

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Aldine Independent School District (ISD), serving nearly 60,000 students in the Houston area, has partnered with iCEV to provide hands-on learning, career exploration, and industry certification opportunities to every student in the district’s career and technical education (CTE) program.

“Aldine ISD is doing incredible work creating opportunities for students to explore careers, and we are eager to continue to support their efforts,” said Dusty Moore, CEO of iCEV. “By adding courses and real-time data insights, the district is committing to improving student outcomes and supporting the community and local industries.”

Aldine ISD equips 19,000 CTE students with the skills and credentials they need for college and careers. Students have the opportunity to explore high-demand pathways like health science, agriculture, and animal science. Offering courses in each of these clusters, iCEV’s curriculum is aligned with Texas, national, and industry standards.

Students at Aldine ISD are also gaining essential skills and knowledge by earning industry certifications on the iCEV Testing Platform. These certifications enhance students’ professional credibility and empower them to discover their vocational passions. Certifications include Elanco Fundamentals of Animal Science, Elanco Veterinary Medical Applications, Express Employment Professionals Career Preparedness, and Southwest Airlines^® Professional Communications.

Additionally, through the district’s use of Eduthings, student and community data revealed a gap in healthcare access and workforce preparation. To address this, the district launched a $32-million healthcare education initiative with Memorial Hermann, backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies. This opportunity will train students to work in healthcare beyond graduation or prepare them for entry into postsecondary medical programs.

“In Aldine, we believe in the whole student and we strive to deliver impactful and meaningful experiences to every student,” said Brooke Martin, executive director of CTE for Aldine ISD. “In partnership with iCEV, we are focusing on developing well-rounded students equipped with both the technical and soft skills essential for success in the modern workplace.”

To learn more about Aldine ISD’s partnership with iCEV, read and watch this success story here.

About iCEV and Eduthings

iCEV offers Eduthings, a powerful data management platform designed to streamline reporting for key components of Career and Technical Education (CTE), including industry certifications, work-based learning, and participation in Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs).

Since 1984, iCEV has been a trusted leader in CTE, delivering high-quality curriculum and educational resources that empower educators and students alike. As the most comprehensive online platform for CTE, iCEV provides standards-aligned curriculum across a wide range of subject areas, including agricultural science, trade & industrial education, business & marketing, career exploration, family & consumer science, health science, law enforcement and STEM education.

In addition to curriculum, iCEV serves as a certification testing platform for a growing number of recognized industry credentials. Leading companies and organizations choose iCEV to deliver and manage their certification exams. For more information, visit www.icevonline.com.

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