Press Category: On the Wire

WHAT: Three days of no-cost live sessions for K–12 school and district leaders, teachers, paraprofessionals, speech-language pathologists, and other education professionals interested in the science of reading.

WHEN: Monday, October 6 – Wednesday, October 8, 2025; 12 PM – 1 PM ET each day

REGISTER: https://cvent.me/o3kMAK

Boston – Sept. 15, 2025 – Lexia, a Cambium Learning Group brand, invites district leaders, teachers, and reading specialists to join the return of Science of Reading Week this fall. The 2025 program offers new opportunities to advance literacy leadership through fresh toolkits, frameworks, and strategies tailored to the needs of early, developing, and adolescent readers. Each session will be held from 12 – 1 PM ET each day and is designed to spark ideas, build capacity, and share real stories of student success—helping educators see both the “why” and the “how” of advancing literacy.

Earlier this spring, Lexia’s Science of Reading Week explored the science of reading journey answering the questions of how to lead change, build momentum, and create lasting systems for strong literacy instruction. Attendees praised the event for its practical strategies, inspiring speakers, and authentic stories of reading transformation.

This fall builds on that momentum with an expanded lineup of experts and practitioners, offering actionable insights that educators can bring back to their schools and districts right away.

Session Lineup

Monday, October 6 – Early Readers: Building Strong Foundations

The earliest years of school set the stage for lifelong literacy success. This session explores how intentional practices in phonemic awareness, vocabulary, and oral language can transform trajectories for young learners. Speakers will highlight practical strategies, from leveraging family engagement to building teacher confidence, that help young learners establish strong, lasting foundations in literacy. Attendees will gain both evidence-based insights and classroom-ready practices to set students up for success from the very start.

Moderator: Kerri Larkin, National Senior Education Advisor, Lexia

Speakers: Dr. Angela Sykes Rutherford (University of Mississippi); Dr. Ann Kaiser (Vanderbilt University); Jenna Wright (Corpus Christi ISD)

Tuesday, October 7 – Developing Readers: Bridging Skills and Confidence

As students move beyond early decoding, gaps in fluency and comprehension can erode confidence. This session highlights practical approaches for accelerating skill growth while nurturing the belief that every student can succeed as a reader. Participants will hear how districts are closing critical skill gaps by combining decoding and fluency supports with approaches that nurture student self-belief. The session will feature real-world examples of how teachers are building student stamina, increasing comprehension, and reigniting motivation. Attendees will leave with strategies to help developing readers not only improve proficiency but also rediscover joy and confidence in reading.
Moderator: Dr. Octavia Gray-Essex, National Senior Education Advisor, Lexia

Speakers: Jeanne Schopf, M.Ed, NBCT, C-SLDI (Pathways Towards Literacy LLC); Lindsay Bohm (Peoria Public Schools District 150, IL); Frank Lukasik (East Meadow UFSD, NY)

 Wednesday, October 8 – Adolescent Readers: Learning to Read, Reading to Learn

Older students often face the dual challenge of mastering literacy while applying it across rigorous content areas. This session explores evidence-based practices that help adolescents close gaps, engage in complex texts, and build the confidence to thrive in high school and beyond. Experts will share proven approaches to scaffolding instruction, accelerating catch-up growth, and creating conditions where adolescents feel empowered as capable readers. With practical frameworks and inspiring stories from high schools, attendees will learn how to help secondary students thrive academically and prepare for college and career success.
Moderator: Kerri Larkin, National Senior Education Advisor, Lexia

Speakers: Celeste Myers (Edna Karr High School, LA); Dr. Carol Jago (California Reading and Literature Project, UCLA); Maryann Hilton (Imagine School at Town Center, FL)

There is no cost to attend these live sessions, but registration is required. For more information, please go to https://events.lexialearning.com/science-of-reading-week-fall-2025.

Media Contacts:

Sabrina Leon, Lexia PR Manager

sabrina.leon@lexialearning.com

Charlotte Andrist, Nickel Communications

charlotte@nickelcommpr.com

Media Inquiries Only: 770-310-5244

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CONCORD, NH (Sept. 15, 2025) — Nearly 80 ready-to-use lessons and 24 videos strengthening New Hampshire’s civics education have been completed and are now available for educators to use during the upcoming school year, including for Constitution Day lessons on September 17.

Led by the New Hampshire Civics Commission and created by worldwide edtech leader Discovery Education, the new digital civics lessons showcase the history and heritage of the New Hampshire Constitution, which can easily be integrated into instruction.

“Knowledge is power. Understanding the New Hampshire Constitution and how our state government works is key to empowering students and citizens to have their voices heard and to influence public policy,” said Ovide Lamontagne, commission chair. “State government was established by the citizens of the Granite State to serve them and only a knowledgeable citizenry can assure government works as intended.”

The Commission developed a K-12 curriculum to support educators across the state and equip students to be knowledgeable and eager participants in our Constitutional Republic. The newly completed civics curriculum is organized within a custom New Hampshire Constitution Channel on the Discovery Education Experience platform – which is made available at no cost to schools and educators by the New Hampshire Department of Education.

“With its focus on our unique State Constitution, the curriculum deployed by the New Hampshire Civics Commission has materially advanced civics education. It is critically important for students to be taught and to understand how, first and foremost, Part I of the New Hampshire Constitution protects our rights, while Part II carefully defines and limits the power of government,” said Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald, commission member. “As a result of the Commission’s work, our students will be empowered to go on to influence public policy and improve the quality of life in our state well into the future.”

These digital assets feature state-specific artifacts and primary source documents that help develop each student’s understanding of their state government and constitution. Topics such as freedom of speech, government functions, the Pine Tree Riot, branches of government, the meaning of freedom, and the Western Rebellion are included in the curriculum. Here is a list of all the lesson plans:

New Hampshire Constitution Curriculum (K–12)

In addition to the lesson plans, there are also 24 videos incorporated into the lessons featuring state experts such as: Gordon MacDonald, Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court; Bill Gardner, former New Hampshire Secretary of State; Chuck Douglas, former New Hampshire Supreme Court Associate Justice; and Ovide Lamontagne, chair of the New Hampshire Civics Commission and former chair of the State Board of Education.

“It is my sincere hope that the curriculum developed by the New Hampshire Civics Commission will provide educators with the tools to provide students with the functional knowledge of our state government. I am grateful to my fellow commission members for their faithful dedication and professionalism in completing our work,” added Lamontagne.

“Discovery Education is proud to have collaborated with the Commission and other stakeholders on this important project,” said Lance Rougeux, Discovery Education’s Senior Vice President of Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Engagement. “Together, we’ve created a dynamic civics curriculum that is both engaging for students and easy-to-use for teachers, and we are excited to see these resources in use across the state.”

The Civics Commission objectives were part of Section 21-N:8-c, which aims to teach students about their rights and responsibilities as citizens.

About Discovery Education 
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art, PreK-12, digital solutions help educators engage all students and support higher academic achievement. Through award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools that are effective, engaging, and easy to use, Discovery Education helps educators deliver powerful learning experiences. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Through partnerships with districts, states, and trusted organizations, Discovery Education empowers teachers with essential edtech solutions that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and accelerate learning. Learn more at www.discoveryeducation.com.    

Contact  
Stephen Wakefield  
Discovery Education  
Phone: 202-316-6615  
Email: swakefield@discoveryed.com  

Contact  
Kimberly Houghton 
New Hampshire Department of Education 
Phone: 603-513-3030 
Email: kimberly.c.houghton@doe.nh.gov

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Boston – Sept. 11, 2025 – As schools head into a new back-to-school season, VHS Learning, a nonprofit empowering schools with rigorous, teacher-led online courses, today announced significant year-over-year enrollment growth across its program offerings. The 30-year-old organization, which helps schools and districts expand academic opportunities in areas where they may lack teachers, reported a 15% increase in full-year course enrollments, an 18% increase in self-paced AP® enrollments, and continued momentum in semester-based courses with 5% growth in spring and 2% growth in fall compared to the prior year.

“High schools across the country are looking for ways to meet student demand for AP® courses, advanced STEM electives, and unique offerings that aren’t always possible to staff locally,” said Carol DeFuria, President & CEO of VHS Learning. “VHS Learning is filling a critical need—helping schools cost-effectively expand their programs of study while ensuring students receive high-quality, teacher-led instruction that prepares them for college, careers, and lifelong success.”

Expanding Choices for Schools and Students

With more than 200 high school courses—including 31 AP® courses, world languages, STEM, humanities, and credit recovery—VHS Learning provides districts with turnkey access to classes taught by certified high school teachers. This allows schools to:

• Offer AP® and advanced courses when they cannot hire specialized staff.
  • Provide flexible self-paced AP® options for motivated students.
  • Strengthen college and career readiness by developing student critical thinking, collaboration, and time management skills.

Among the most popular courses this year are AP® Computer Science A, AP® Psychology, and AP® Economics, reflecting strong demand for Advanced Placement® options that help students earn college credits while still in high school. Social Studies courses such as Criminology, Psychology of Crime, and AP® United States Government and Politics also continue to see high enrollments. VHS Learning’s breadth of course offerings ensures that college-bound students and those exploring career pathways can find classes that match their goals.

Three Decades of Impact

Since its founding 30 years ago, VHS Learning has partnered with thousands of schools worldwide. Its online programs enable districts to cost-effectively expand academic offerings while helping students collaborate with peers from across the U.S. and around the globe.

“As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we remain committed to expanding opportunities for students everywhere,” added DeFuria. “Every enrollment represents a learner gaining access to a course that could change their academic path and inspire their future.”

About VHS Learning

VHS Learning is a nonprofit organization with 30 years of experience providing world-class online programs to students and schools everywhere. More than 500 schools around the world enroll students in VHS Learning’s 200+ online high school courses—including 31 AP® courses, credit recovery, and enrichment courses—to expand their programs of study. VHS Learning is accredited by Middle States Association Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) and the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC). Courses are approved for initial eligibility by NCAA. For more information about VHS Learning, please visit www.vhslearning.org and follow on X at @VHSLearning.

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Charlotte, NC (Wednesday, September 10, 2025) – Discovery Education is now offering a new collection of high-quality digital content, immersive learning resources, and virtual field trips to boost student engagement in career exploration during Workforce Development Month and beyond. Discovery Education is the creator of essential PreK-12 learning solutions used in classrooms around the world. 

Created in 2005 by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals, Workforce Development Month raises awareness about the importance of the workforce industry to the economy. The resources now available from Discovery Education include: 

Careers Hub: The Careers Hub on Discovery Education Experience, the essential companion for engaged K-12 classrooms, is a curated collection of resources aligned to 14 career clusters. The profiles, virtual field trips, and immersive tools within the Careers Hub inspire students by connecting learning to real-world goals. Educators can easily find career resources, skill-building activities, and more in this easy-to-use center. 

Career Connect: Available to all users of Discovery Education Experience, the award-winning Career Connect fosters student engagement by connecting classroom learning to real-world applications and potential careers. Through Career Connect, educators request virtual classroom visits from industry professionals, selecting from an array of job types, industries, languages, and locations. Career Connect now features the IF/THEN® STEM video collection, through which classrooms can view career profiles of dynamic STEM careers and extend the learning by connecting directly with virtual speakers in similar roles. 

Immersive Learning 

• In Operation Communication, a new immersive game from the STEM Careers Coalition, students in grades 6-12 experience a day in the life of an employee in a simulated workplace, navigating production schedules, team dynamics, and customer satisfaction. Players practice a wide range of active skills with a focus on effective communication in the workplace to keep the production line running smoothly and create happy customers. Students can then use the new Career Finder tool to explore career pathways based on their interests. Powered by the STEM Careers Coalition, these resources help students find out about new careers and discover how classroom learning connects to real-world possibilities. The STEM Careers Coalition is an alliance of industries and non-profit organizations providing 11M+ students with equitable access to STEM resources and career connections since its launch in 2019. 

• The cutting edge Haul! Learning Experience is designed to provide students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to discover how copper ore makes its way into the items that power our day. A part of Dig Into Mining – The Story of Copper, the educational program created in partnership with Freeport-McMoRan that uncovers the use of metals such as copper in our everyday life, HAUL!  challenges students to navigate their way through a 3D copper mine to earn their Haul Truck Operator’s Scorecard while learning how STEM is used in this larger-than-life operation. 

• HARVEST: From Seed to Success empowers students to step into the role of a farmer and discover what it takes to grow a successful harvest. In the experience, students consult agricultural professionals to analyze a soil sample, select crops and fertilizers, identify the right moment to harvest, and simulate operating a combine to harvest crops. An accompanying educator guide and ready-to-use student activities make it easy for educators to integrate the resource into any lesson plan. This resource is from Cooperative Minds, an educational initiative from Discovery Education and the CHS Foundation. 

Discover more free immersive learning resources from Discovery Education and partners here. 

Virtual Field Trips 

• Forging Innovation: A Mission Possible Virtual Field Trip: 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 powered by Nucor and available from the STEM Careers Coalition. 

This virtual field trip premieres on October 9, 2025, and is designed for students in grades 6-12. 

• Careers at Sea and Shore: A Virtual Field Trip to Maritime Manufacturing Centers: 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.   

This virtual field trip premieres on October 29, 2025, and is designed for students in grades 6-12. 

Discover more Discovery Education virtual field trips here or on the Virtual Field Trips channel in Discovery Education Experience. 

Finally, Discovery Education recently launched the Education Insights 2025–2026: Fueling Learning Through Engagement report, which explores how engagement is defined, observed, and nurtured in classrooms. To further support educators’ efforts to engage students during Workforce Development Month and beyond, on Thursday, October 8 at 2:00 PM ET, Discovery Education is hosting a special, town hall-style webinar during which education leaders from across the nation will share their thoughts and insights on this report and its findings. All educators are encouraged to attend this no-cost event. Discover details and register for this event here. 

“Discovery Education is proud to collaborate with its partners to make this new collection of engaging resources available to teachers nationwide,” said Catherine Dunlop, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Discovery Education. “With more than 170 million new jobs projected to be created by 2030, engaging students by connecting classroom learning to real-world careers is critical. With these career readiness resources, educators can effectively engage students about workforce opportunities.” 

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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Lubbock, TX – September 10, 2025 – iCEV, a trailblazer in Career & Technical Education (CTE) solutions, received three Educators Pick Best of STEM^® 2025 Awards, the only awards program judged by STEM educators. The company earned recognition across multiple categories, including iCEV’s Comprehensive Solution in the CTE Champion: Comprehensive CTE Solutions category, iCEV’s Manufacturing Curriculum in the CTE Champion: Manufacturing category, and iCEV’s Health Science Curriculum in the CTE Champion: Health Science category.

“iCEV is always exploring new ways to empower CTE leaders and teachers across every career cluster and these awards are meaningful recognitions of the impact we strive to make,” said Clayton Franklin, Chief Product Officer of iCEV. “These accolades are an honor, especially since we are hearing directly from STEM educators about how they see iCEV supporting CTE classes.”

iCEV’s comprehensive CTE solution combines robust instructional resources and powerful data tools to drive meaningful student outcomes. Offering more than 200 courses across all 16 career clusters, the curriculum is aligned to state, national, and industry standards, ensuring students build the knowledge and skills needed to succeed. Paired with a data management platform that streamlines reporting and provides actionable insights, iCEV empowers schools to deliver career-ready graduates who can also earn industry-recognized certifications.

iCEV’s Manufacturing and Health Science curriculum packages provide an excellent pathway to prepare students for internships and real-world work experiences. Each package features ready-to-use lesson plans, interactive and engaging learning opportunities, hands-on activities, and thought-provoking projects designed for practical application.

Both iCEV’s comprehensive CTE solution and Health Science curriculum previously won Educators Pick Best of STEM 2024 Awards in their respective categories.

To learn more about iCEV and its offerings, visit www.icevonline.com.

More about the awards

Run by Catapult X and the Teich Group, the Educators Pick Best of STEM^® 2025 Awards is the only awards program judged by STEM Educators. The awards program, operated in partnership with the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), MCH Strategic Data, and the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), spotlights innovative products, technologies, and services that are changing the world of STEM education.

Each year, STEM award entries receive a two-part evaluation process, first, by an expert panel of educator judges, including Dr. Linda Johnson-McClinton, Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth, Dr. Jeffrey Crapper, Dr. Omah M. Williams-Duncan, Jamica Craig, Kim Collazo, and Erin Barr. Once judges select the finalists, more than 260,000 STEM educators are given the opportunity to evaluate the finalists via survey.

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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Chicago, (September 9, 2025) — Avantis Education, creator of the world’s leading virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) solution designed exclusively for education, announces Eduverse CTE – its most comprehensive career training content to date. Eduverse CTE is the first in a series of immersive VR/AR content libraries from Avantis Education. It is designed for career and technical education (CTE) classes and focuses on career readiness, vocational pathways and career exploration.

With demand for vocational skills at an all-time high, Avantis is bringing its proven immersive learning technology to the CTE space. Independent research shows that students using VR are four times more focused, almost four times more emotionally connected to lessons, and more than twice as confident in applying their knowledge compared to traditional teaching methods – evidence that immersive training delivers real impact for career readiness.

Available exclusively through the all-new ClassVR Xcelerate headsets, Eduverse CTE is the first content library developed specifically for Avantis’ six-degrees-of-freedom headset, giving learners full freedom of movement and enabling them to have authentic virtual workplace experiences in a safe, engaging, and classroom-ready format.

“Eduverse CTE is our most ambitious immersive learning content library yet, designed to give students authentic workplace practice while giving teachers the confidence to deliver it easily in the classroom,” said Gillian Rhodes, Chief Marketing Officer at Avantis Education. “By combining immersive career simulations with classroom management tools, we are giving teachers the power to inspire students by providing future-ready skills and the competence and clarity to succeed as tomorrow’s workforce. It’s more than just technology – it’s a complete career training experience.”

Eduverse CTE brings curriculum-aligned career training experiences directly into the classroom, with immersive modules that help students develop both soft skills and technical abilities. Scenario-based experiences build confidence in areas such as communication, teamwork, negotiation and interview practice, while hands-on simulations in a job setting allow learners to explore high-demand industries including healthcare, construction, hospitality and skilled trades.

Career exploration is made possible through immersive job shadowing content that helps students understand day-to-day tasks and make informed decisions about their futures.

Every module in Eduverse CTE is designed with pedagogy in mind, developed in partnership with leading extended reality (XR) content creators VirtualSpeech, VictoryXR, Lifelique and Xennial.

Partnering with VirtualSpeech introduces AI-powered soft skills learning to ClassVR for the first time. “There are so many synergies between our companies – not least our shared focus on creating immersive experiences that have a positive and tangible impact in the real world,” explains Sophie Thompson, CEO, VirtualSpeech.

“VirtualSpeech has been widely adopted globally by professionals striving to improve their communication skills, and now, through this partnership, we can bring the benefits of virtual role play and feedback to help more students become career-ready in a safe and supportive way.”

Each Xcelerate purchase comes with a three-year Eduverse CTE subscription. As with all ClassVR solutions, Eduverse CTE content benefits from drag-and-drop playlist creation, real-time classroom monitoring, built-in safeguarding controls and simple device management, ensuring teachers can deliver lessons with confidence and students remain engaged throughout.

To learn more about Xcelerate and Eduverse CTE, visit https://www.classvr.com/vr-headsets/xcelerate-headset/. 

About Avantis

Avantis Education, the creators of ClassVR, provides simple classroom technology used by more than two million students in over 90 countries.

The world’s first virtual reality technology designed specifically for schools, ClassVR delivers everything educators need to implement VR learning in the classroom – affordably and at scale.

To learn more visit www.classvr.com.

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