Press Category: On the Wire

Broward County Public Schools has opened the new school site for the Broward County Acceleration Academies (BCAA). BCAA is a free alternative pathway to a high school diploma, combining in-person and online study with coaching and support for students who are at-risk or who have dropped out of a traditional high school. Students have been meeting at a temporary BCAA site since January and already, the first student has earned her high school diploma and has graduated from high school.

Several elected officials and district leaders were present at the ribbon cutting including Dr. Howard Hepburn, Superintendent of Broward County Public Schools; Theresa Brier, District Director, Office of U.S. Representative Jared Moskowitz (FL-23); and Representative Daryl Campbell, District 99.

Broward County Acceleration Academies is the result of a partnership between Broward County Public Schools and Acceleration Academies. It will serve 300 students year-round with individually paced learning. It is open on weekdays, most evenings, and weekends. BCAA offers a blended approach so students can take courses online or in-person while having daily in-person interaction with teachers and mentors. Success coaches guide students through their curriculum and also help them navigate personal challenges so that they have the best chance of attaining their goal. 

“BCAA offers a free alternative pathway to a high school diploma for students who have dropped out, are at risk of dropping out, or are not thriving in traditional schools. It is especially wonderful to open the doors on BCAA’s new location on the same day that our first BCAA graduate has earned her diploma,” said Kelli Campbell, CEO of Acceleration Academies. “We want everyone in the community to know that our doors are open to students who face challenges and have either given up on school or are contemplating dropping out. Our teachers and coaches will be with them every step of the way, while they find a process and timeframe to suit their individual needs.” 

“All of our staff at BCAA are thrilled to welcome students to this new facility, one that conveys the respect and admiration we have for them and the challenges they have overcome,” said BCAA Director, Rosa Martinez.

Shamel, a student of BCAA said, “One of the things that I like is that it’s not just teachers telling you to do work. Coaches aren’t like teachers – they come and talk to you, explain things and help with definitions. They really help you understand the work here.”

The new school is located at 725 Progresso Drive in Fort Lauderdale. 

About Acceleration Academies
​Over 6,500 students are pursuing their path to a high school diploma through Acceleration Academies, which operates 20 academies in six states. Acceleration Academies provides a blend of in-person and remote coursework, personalized learning plans, flexible scheduling and career/life coaching to help students who may otherwise not be successful in earning their diploma. Find more information at accelerationacademies.org. 

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Charlotte, NC (Thursday, July 24, 2025)—Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) today announced an extension of its long-term partnership with Discovery Education, the creators of essential PreK-12 learning solutions used in classrooms around the world. With the renewal of this 22-year partnership, Louisiana teachers maintain access to innovative digital resources that foster engaging learning environments, spark student curiosity, and boost academic success. 

LPB is Louisiana’s largest digital classroom over the air, on every device, in schools, and in the community. LPB’s Educational Services Department is committed to providing extensive information, lesson plans, materials, and digital resources to support formal K-12 education statewide. Through its 22-year partnership with Discovery Education, LPB has offered learners access to a deep library of digital resources through Discovery Education Experience.  

Discovery Education Experience is the essential companion for engaged classrooms, offering supplemental, cross-curricular, digital resources that inspires teachers, motivates students, and supports instruction in all 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. Recently, Discovery Education announced a host of new enhancements to Discovery Education Experience that include new tools and resources, AI technology, additional career explorations, and more.  

“Louisiana Public Broadcasting is delighted to mark its 22nd year of partnership with Discovery Education,” said Clarence “C.C” Copeland, President and CEO of Louisiana Public Broadcasting. “In collaboration with Discovery Education, we are equipping teachers with the essential tools they need to ignite student curiosity and deepen engagement in learning. We are excited to continue this impactful partnership.” 

All educators using Discovery Education’s digital resources have access to the Discovery Educator Network or DEN. 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 idea sharing and inspiration.  

This year, the DEN is celebrating 20 years of connecting educators to their most valuable resource: each other. Educators interested in learning more this powerful professional learning community and joining the DEN can visit the DEN homepage here. 

“Discovery Education is excited to extend this long-standing partnership,” said Lyndley McNabb, Partnership Manager at Discovery Education. “C.C Copeland, CEO of Louisiana Public Broadcasting, and Nancy Tooraen, Education Director, have demonstrated remarkable commitment to supporting teachers and students statewide, and we are honored to contribute to their work on behalf of the students and teachers of Louisiana.” 

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, and Facebook.      

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About Discovery Education  

Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art, PreK-12, digital solutions support learning wherever it takes place. Through award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and strategic alliances, Discovery Education helps educators deliver powerful learning experiences that engage all students and support higher academic achievement on a global scale. 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. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.  

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

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San Francisco, Calif. – July 22, 2025 — ClassDojo today announced a major expansion of its ClassDojo for Districts platform, launching new features designed to help district leaders unify communication, strengthen family engagement, and streamline oversight across schools—all while helping districts adapt to deepening budget pressures. With ongoing cuts to federal education funding, leaders are under increasing pressure to do more with less. These new updates—available for the 2025–26 school year—offer a cost-free solution built directly from feedback from superintendents, chief technology officers, and school public relations officials. The release includes enhancements to messaging, behavior and classroom management, and IT administration.

“Every iteration of ClassDojo is built on feedback from the people who use it,” said Chad A. Stevens, Ph.D., ClassDojo’s Head of K–12 Engagement. “Superintendents were clear that they wanted to use tools that were already rapidly adopted and loved by school staff. So, we built tools that bring the whole district together—with consistency, control, and care.”

Communication and Family Engagement that Scales Districtwide

Districts can now send Announcements to all families, school staff, or targeted groups. Messages are automatically translated into 130+ languages and include Read Receipts so central offices can confirm delivery. Time-sensitive updates can also be sent as important messages via SMS.

For middle and high schools, the platform now offers a more age-appropriate student experience. Students can customize their own avatars (or use initials), and the redesigned interface helps reinforce routines and independence.

AI-Powered Support for Teachers

To support teachers, ClassDojo created Sidekick, an AI assistant that helps reduce busywork and give teachers more time with students. Sidekick assists with lesson planning, admin tasks, and everyday classroom workflows—and continues to evolve based on teacher feedback.

“Teachers tell us Sidekick saves them hours each week,” said Dr. Stevens. “They feel more prepared and more present with students plus they don’t have to leave a proven tool that they are using on a daily basis.”

Seamless Oversight and IT Control

ClassDojo for Districts now offers automated rostering and integration with SIS systems, ClassLink, or SFTP—reducing manual setup and syncing data on students, staff, and families daily. Staff logins are secured with Google or Microsoft SSO, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) is available for added protection.

Communication records—including text, images, videos, and files—are easy to audit by authorized personnel. Search by school, date range, or staff member, and export via time-limited secure links.

Coming in 2026

Future updates will include teacher-to-student messaging, attendance-based alerts via SIS, automated voice calls to households, and integration with district social media channels such as Facebook and Instagram.

Dr. Stevens concluded, “Districts are often forced to choose between innovation and affordability—but with ClassDojo, they don’t have to. These upcoming features are designed to replace outdated, expensive systems with something better: a simple, unified platform that helps schools reach families more effectively. And best of all, it’s free.”

To learn more, visit: www.classdojo.com/districts

About ClassDojo for Districts
ClassDojo is on a mission to give every child an education they love. Already used by over 45 million families and teachers around the world, ClassDojo helps schools build strong, connected communities. ClassDojo for Districts brings this connection to the whole school system—helping leaders reach every family, reduce absences, improve student behavior, and ensure consistent communication across schools. Districts gain the oversight they need with tools like rostering, SSO, and SIS integration, plus simple ways to celebrate students, share updates, and keep families in the loop—all in a platform teachers already love. And it’s free for teachers, schools, and districts.

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Press inquiries: press@classdojo.com

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BOSTON (July 16, 2025) – Lexia, a Cambium Learning Group brand, has launched Lexia LETRS Connect, a digital platform where graduates of the Lexia LETRS Professional Learning course can further their understanding of the science of reading. The platform provides users with access to their previously completed course as well as the latest literacy research, instructional best practices, and actionable tools.

“LETRS graduates expressed a desire for ongoing learning opportunities that would help them sustain and cultivate their knowledge and practice,” said Lexia President Nick Gaehde. “With the research-based professional learning resources we’ve made available through LETRS Connect, educators can take the next step in their LETRS learning journey.”

LETRS Connect provides access to:

• A library of expert-led sessions with professional learning resources, opportunities for reflection, Check for Understanding assessments, and proof of completion certificates.
• An enhanced Resource Library containing modeling videos; exclusive, downloadable content; and resources such as graphic organizers, highlighted routines, and activities to apply in the classroom.
• Live-online, synchronous events with practitioners, subject matter experts and researchers.

“The biggest thing about LETRS Connect for me is that it gives users the opportunity to continue learning and to also ask questions,” said East Meadow Schools Director of Literacy and Funded Programs Frank Lukasik. “We don’t always think of the questions that we need to ask at the moment of learning. Having time to process, reflect, see principles in action, and asking those questions is so important.”

East Meadow Schools in New York state is one of the districts that have adopted LETRS. Almost 75% of East Meadow’s elementary teachers are LETRS graduates, and the rest are slated to participate in the course.

Lukasik also appreciated that the LETRS Connect platform allows users to interact with educators from other districts via Lexia’s online community center. “You need to be able to connect with others, ask questions, and validate something that you’re thinking about,” he said.

“Research indicates that effective professional development is most impactful when it is sustained over time,” said Gaehde. “We expect that making professional development an ongoing experience for LETRS graduates will yield even more benefits for their students’ performance and the health of their educational systems.”

About Lexia

Lexia, a Cambium Learning Group brand, is transforming literacy education, driving change in 1 of every 3 school districts across the United States. For more than 40 years, Lexia has been a thought leader in literacy education, delivering award-winning, research-based solutions grounded in the science of reading. With a full spectrum of offerings, including professional learning, curriculum, and embedded assessment tools, Lexia provides educators with Structured Literacy solutions that are proven effective and designed to drive meaningful literacy outcomes. By empowering educators with unparalleled ease of use and the knowledge and tools they need, Lexia helps more students unlock their potential to read, write, and speak with confidence. For more information, visit lexialearning.com.

About Cambium Learning Group

Cambium Learning Group is the education essentials company, providing award-winning education technology and services for K-12 educators and students. With an intentional collection of respected global brands, Cambium serves as a leader, helping millions of educators and students feel more seen, valued, and supported every day. In everything it does, the company focuses on the elements that are most essential to the success of education, delivering simpler, more certain solutions that make a meaningful difference right now. To learn more, visit www.cambiumlearning.com or follow Cambium on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. The Cambium family of brands includes: Cambium Assessment, Lexia, Learning A-Z, ExploreLearning, and Time4Learning.

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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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Charlotte, NC (Tuesday, July 15, 2025)—Georgia’s Pickens County School District (PCSD) today announced a new partnership with edtech leader Discovery Education that will enhance science and social studies instruction in the district’s elementary and middle school classrooms. Through this new collaboration, PCSD educators will gain access to a dynamic suite of digital resources that will be used to create more engaging and personalized learning experiences for all students. Discovery Education is the creator of essential PreK-12 learning solutions used in classrooms around the world.

Located in North Central Georgia, PCSD is the only school district in the county and serves the communities of Jasper, Talking Rock, Tate, and part of Nelson. The district’s staff of approximately 600 professionals serve more than 3,700 students in 6 schools across the county. With high expectations, PCSD seeks to educate and develop well-rounded, confident, and responsible individuals who aspire to achieve success.

To meet PCSD’s goal of increasing student demonstrations of mastery through quality instruction, the district sought engaging, rigorous, and standards-aligned digital resources to enhance science and social studies instruction in elementary and middle school classrooms. After a complete evaluation of available resources, PCSD administrators selected the following solutions from Discovery Education for district use:

• Discovery Education Experience. 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. Recently, Discovery Education announced a host of new enhancements to Discovery Education Experience that include new tools and resources, AI technology, additional career explorations, and more. PCSD will use Discovery Education Experience to support both science and social studies instruction.

• Discovery Education Science Techbooks. The Discovery Education Science Techbook series is a complete, research-backed science solution for grades K-12. Used in classrooms across the United States, the Science Techbook series drive engagement with exclusive phenomena and interactive content. The Science Techbooks that will be used by PCSD elementary students are standards-aligned and feature virtual and hands-on investigations, STEM activities, and instructional supports that enhance the delivery of impactful, blended instruction. The Science Techbooks also include standards connections and differentiation activities that inform instructional planning and guide three-dimensional learning. Available with the Science Techbooks are coordinated teacher guides offering unit, concept, and lesson overviews, accompanying print resources, and pre-packaged kits that make classroom activities easy to implement.  Discovery Education’s Science Techbook is certified as meeting the rigorous, evidence-based ESSA Tier III standards as set forth in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Multiple studies show that regular use of Discovery Education Science Techbook in the classroom has many positive academic results for educators and students across a variety of districts and populations in the United States. This research and more can be found here. 

• Social Studies Techbook. Featuring standards-aligned, core-curricular resources that use an inquiry-based approach to enhance literacy and critical thinking skills, Discovery Education’s Social Studies Techbook aids teachers and students as they approach inquiry through the 5Es Framework: Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend, and Evaluate. From stories of ancient cultures to in-depth explorations of civics and government, this comprehensive digital textbook takes concepts off the pages and brings lessons to life. The Social Studies Techbook is available for several courses including World History, U.S. History, Civics and Government, and World Geography and Cultures.

“The Pickens County School District seeks to provide every student access to rigorous and engaging learning experiences that connect instruction to the world beyond the classroom,” said PCSD Chief Academic Officer Dr. Abby May. “The new digital resources we are integrating into elementary and middle school instruction supports not only the acquisition of the background knowledge students need for future success, but also the development of the communication, collaboration, and creative thinking skills they will need to thrive in the workforce of tomorrow.  We look forward to seeing these resources in action in the new school year.”

PCSD educators in grades K-6 using Discovery Education’s digital resources also have access to the Discovery Educator Network or DEN. 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 idea sharing and inspiration.

This year, the DEN is celebrating 20 years of connecting educators to their most valuable resource: each other.  Educators interested in learning more about this powerful professional learning community and joining the DEN can visit the DEN homepage here.

“Discovery Education is excited to kick-off this new partnership with the Pickens County School District,” said Nicholas Yorio, Discovery Education Account Executive. “Chief Academic Officer Dr. Abby May and the entire team at PCSD are dedicated to providing each student the engaging, modern learning experiences all learners need for future success, and we are proud to support them in this effort.”

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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