KALAMAZOO, Michigan – Return on Investment (ROI) is one of the leading financial measuring tools for businesses and industries everywhere, including school districts. But another ROI is even more important to schools, Return on Instruction.

Level Data, Inc., North America’s leading school and student data validation software provider serving more than 7 million in student population, announces it has purchased Glimpse K12, a school curriculum measurement tool that shows district leaders which education programs are being utilized, and their effects on student progress, so data-based decision making can occur by school leadership in both forms of ROI.

“We optimize school spending around what works for students,” said Nicole Pezent of Glimpse K12. “The Glimpse platform strategically aligns everything the district is doing to raise student achievement, captures how they are implementing it, and measures these activities versus student outcomes. Administrators receive return-on-investment and return-on-instruction reports to guide future decisions.

“Strategic alignment and ROI analysis ensure districts are measuring activities in the context of student outcomes which is critical to optimizing resources around what’s working for students,” she added. “School district’s two basic responsibilities are to grow students academically and be fiscally responsible to their community. We help give them the data to be able to monitor those things.”

Public School Administrators and Student Data Specialists everywhere understand that recording and maintaining accurate student data is critical to school operations and funding from government sources. This new acquisition offers school districts the maximum of both worlds – clean and accurate data to maximize school district funding, and a tool to measure the effectiveness of educational programming that money is spent on.

Level Data – which creates an easy system for enabling incredibly-accurate Student Information Systems (SIS) intuitive for the tasked school employees – is always looking for new and innovative ways to get the right information into the right hands of the right people at the right time in school districts everywhere.

“Glimpse K12 is a valuable return on investment and return on instruction tool that we can help populate from all the right authoritative applications in the district so that district leaders can get a really good sense of where they should be spending their money, and getting effective use of the money they are spending,” said Matt Betts, president of Level Data, the 15-year-old company whose software maintains data validation for more than 1,500 school districts and multiple State Departments of Education across the U.S.

“It’s about what kind of tools can we give school district leaders so that they can make decisions with facts, rather than feel, and supply them accurate information on what’s being used, who is using it and who is using it well.”

In the past 15-20 years, school instruction has grown significantly from the days of students using textbooks and one or two computers in the classroom; now to major innovations in online learning tools available to teachers and students – some free and some with very expensive licensing agreements. The COVID 19 pandemic quickly accelerated such online learning techniques.

This huge trend in learning options has completely changed the landscape for school administrators. A lot of the options are extremely innovative and can be great assets for student learning. But there is also a lot of guessing and experimentation relying on anecdotal review.

“From classroom to classroom and from school to school, the administrators have a hard time understanding (in measurable data terms) what one teacher is doing vs. what another teacher is doing vs. what the overall district is hoping to have happen,” said Adam Pearson of Glimpse K12.

“Until now, there was never really a dashboard view to strategically align what we are doing for these students, and more importantly evaluating how effective it was – because if it’s very effective it’s a great insight into using it for best practices and help develop other educators. Likewise, if a certain program is not effective then there is good data showing a need for change from a data-driven perspective, not just anecdotal or arbitrary decisions based on personal feelings.” More information can be found at:  www.leveldata.com/return-on-investment

NORTH BILLERICA, Mass. — The Texas Education Agency (TEA) recently named Curriculum Associates’ i-Ready Assessment to its Commissioner’s List of Approved Grade 7 Reading Instruments. Starting this coming school year, districts and open-enrollment charter schools can now use the online program to assess all students whose performance on the Grade 6 STAAR Reading assessment did not demonstrate reading proficiency. Results from the reading assessments will help inform additional reading instruction and intervention for students.

“To increase literacy achievement throughout the state, it is essential that Texas educators have actionable data to help students, especially those who may need extra supports,” said Claudia Salinas, vice president of English Learning at Curriculum Associates. “With the recent approval by the TEA, teachers can now use i-Ready to quickly and efficiently collect—and utilize—important student data. This will help teachers personalize their instruction to support reading success while saving them time.”

TEA conducted a comprehensive review of submitted assessments. To receive approval, assessments must be based on current, published scientific research in reading, be age and grade-level appropriate, valid, and reliable, identify specific skill difficulties in word analysis, fluency, and comprehension, and assist the teacher in making individualized instructional decisions based on the assessment results.

In accordance with the Texas Education Code, all approved assessments—including i-Ready—can be used during the 2023–2024 school year through the 2026–2027 school year.

More about i-Ready

i-Ready makes the promise of differentiated instruction a practical reality for Grades K–12 teachers and students. It combines powerful assessments and rich insights with effective and engaging instruction in Reading and Mathematics to address students’ individual needs.

The program’s Diagnosticprovides educators with actionable criterion-referenced and normative data to deliver impactful, equitable learning experiences. Teachers administer the Diagnostic at the beginning of the school year to chart a course for teacher-led instruction, set an i-Ready Personalized Instruction path individualized for each student, and identify students’ differentiated growth goals for the year. A midyear and end-of-year Diagnostic help students and teachers measure growth and have data chats. Teacher-led and personalized instruction continue throughout the year to help students address their learning gaps and access grade-level learning.

All i-Ready district partners have ongoing access to Curriculum Associates’ award-winning customer service. This includes dedicated support via the company’s Customer Service team, professional learning experts, partner success managers, educational sales consultants, and Technical Support team, as well as access to the free customer service portal.

Today, the i-Ready program serves more than 11.5 million students and approximately one-third of all Grades K–8 students in the United States.

To learn more about i-Ready, visit CurriculumAssociates.com/Products/i-Ready/Texas-Reading-Achievement.

About Curriculum Associates

Founded in 1969, Curriculum Associates, LLC designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screens and assessments, and data management tools. The company’s products and outstanding customer service provide teachers and administrators with the resources necessary for teaching diverse student populations and fostering learning for all students.

STAAR® is a federally registered trademark owned by the Texas Education Agency and is used pursuant to license.

ATLANTA /PRNewswire/ — CENTEGIX, the leader in incident response solutions, announced that new customers of its award-winning CrisisAlert solution were the highest in company history and that demand in the first half of 2023 has exceeded the 2022 full-year result.

School districts nationwide overwhelmingly select CENTEGIX’s CrisisAlert wearable panic button to protect staff and students. Now with more than 600,000 badge users, CENTEGIX is by far the industry leader and largest solution provider of wearable incident response technology for K-12 education, representing over 95% of the wearable safety technology market.

“We have six years of experience with wearables and have built a large and rapidly expanding suite of software applications and integrations that protect close to 10 million people for everyday and extreme emergencies. Customers tell us that CENTEGIX is the standard in wearable safety, and because all staff wear our badge, it builds a culture of safety at the location and in the community,” said Brent Cobb, CEO of CENTEGIX.

CENTEGIX has been selected to protect more than 11,500 schools in almost all 50 states, including:

• Three of the top 10 largest school districts in the U.S.; 17 of the top 100
• Over 70% of K-12 public schools in Georgia and Nevada
• Over 35% of K-12 public schools in Florida
• Over 20% of K-12 public schools in New Mexico and Alabama

“Customers also report that they greatly value the fact that our wearables do not rely on mobile cellular or Wi-Fi networks. There is a general consensus that those services are not always available everywhere on every campus. The risk that service is not available when a student or staff member is experiencing a life-threatening issue makes those technologies untenable,” said Cobb.

Unlike mobile app-based solutions that typically have low adoption and usage because they require users to download an application to their personal mobile device, CrisisAlert has 100% user adoption, a critical component of comprehensive safety.

“We have been converting districts from mobile apps to wearables, and those districts have told us that app download rates average 20%, but less than 5% of staff actually have a functioning, active mobile safety app,” said Cobb. Mobile phone users change phones, forget their passwords, forget the name of the app, and various other issues, yielding 95% of staff without a working safety solution. Districts value CrisisAlert because it is available and is used everyday by staff for a variety of incidents. Everyday usage is important because in a moment of crisis, the solution must be easy and familiar to use to be effective. Visit the CENTEGIX website for customer testimonials and CrisisAlert life-saving stories.

CENTEGIX’s leadership position includes its commitment to sharing usage and incident trend data in its biannual School Safety Trends Report. The most recent School Safety Trends Report offers the latest comprehensive analysis of nearly 60,000 uses of CrisisAlert during the 2023 Spring Term. It is the only mobile panic button usage data report in the industry.

Highlights of the report include:

• Everyday emergencies like medical and behavioral incidents make up 98% of all alerts, while campus-wide lockdowns represent a small percentage of usage
• 97% of teachers and staff surveyed indicated a wearable incident response solution helped them feel safe and supported by their district
• Nearly half of all safety incidents on a school campus occur outside the classroom
• Users surveyed indicated that the wearable badge contributes to their peace of mind and allows them to focus on instruction and student achievement

CENTEGIX recently commended the Texas Legislature for being the fifth state to pass Alyssa’s Law, requiring Texas public and charter schools to provide all classrooms with silent panic alarm technology. The CrisisAlert solution exceeds Texas’ Alyssa’s Law requirements. In the first half of 2023, the CENTEGIX customer base grew 300% in Texas, as school districts sought to comply with the law.

In June, CENTEGIX was awarded a Platinum 2023 Secure Campus Award from Campus Security and Life Safety for its integrated safety platform. Also, CENTEGIX’s unique ability to innovate to meet the safety needs and challenges of customers has resulted in recognition from the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the fastest-growing companies in Atlanta, naming CENTEGIX to its Pacesetters list.

CrisisAlert empowers staff with the fastest and easiest way to get help in any emergency. The wearable badge does not depend on Wi-Fi or cellular and is discreet and easy to use in a moment of crisis, when fine motor skills are challenged. In addition, CrisisAlert includes unique capabilities not possible with other wearable panic buttons:

• Precise room-level location of the alert is delivered to responders.
• A map of the campus is displayed to responders showing the location of the alert.
• Full audio-visual notifications communicate immediately to everyone for campus-wide alerts via flashing strobes and intercom messages.
• Full campus coverage—the wearable badge works inside and outside buildings, including parking lots, ball fields, etc.
• Configurable alert types, responder types, protocol development, and user management are easily managed through an interactive, intuitive web interface.
• A simple, fast installation process that requires no alterations to physical structures or electrical wiring.

The CrisisAlert wearable badge also integrates with numerous software applications to provide a comprehensive safety experience, including:

• Video surveillance tools, intercom devices, access control, IP phones, message board displays, computer interfaces, workflow tools, and dozens of other devices and services through an intuitive web interface
• Interfaces to 911 response centers, including CrisisAlert software, RapidSOS, operator-to-operator calls, direct CAD system integrations, emergency management workflow tools, and more
• Full suite of computer interfaces and notifications, including Apple Critical Alert, desktop takeover, text, email, and more
• User and group management via single sign-on services (e.g., Active Directory)

About CENTEGIX
CENTEGIX is the industry leader and largest solution provider of wearable safety technology for K-12 education and protects people in over 11,500 locations. CENTEGIX innovates technology to empower and protect, and leaders nationwide trust our safety solutions to provide peace of mind. To learn more, visit www.CENTEGIX.com.

OAKLAND, Calif. – Today,  Turnitin announced that more than 65 million papers have been reviewed since the April launch of its new feature that detects similarities to AI writing. The company also announced that of those 65 million papers, over 2.1 million – 3.3 percent – have been flagged as having at least 80 percent AI writing present. Nearly 6.7 million – 10.3 percent – have over 20 percent AI writing present. Tracking the overall detection rate illustrates that generative AI has made its way into classrooms, however, whether this is acceptable or not is determined by educators themselves. 

“In just over three months, Turnitin’s new AI detection feature is being used widely and it is giving educators data they have asked for since ChatGPT first became free to the public in November 2022,” said Annie Chechitelli, chief product officer at Turnitin. “Since the release, nearly 98 percent* of Turnitin institutions have AI writing detection enabled within their Turnitin workflow in at least one of their active accounts.” 

Chechitelli added, “Sharing usage and indication rates is one way that we can help improve understanding of the presence and use of generative AI in their teaching and learning practices. Given the urgency expressed by educators about these challenges and the public’s interest in AI text creation and AI text detection, we are committed to sharing these insights so that we can all begin to understand the trends that are currently shaping education.”

Patti West-Smith, Turnitin senior director of customer engagement and a long-time classroom teacher and administrator said, “Turnitin has been a supporter of academic integrity for 25 years and we are continuing that commitment with our new AI writing detection feature. We want teachers and students to talk about appropriate use of writing tools, proper citation and original thinking. Our role is to provide them with a tool to start those meaningful conversations.” 

Conversations are critical because even a very high proportion of the statistical signatures of AI in a document does not necessarily indicate misconduct. Some educators are specifically asking students to use AI tools in their work, so detecting its presence may not be as concerning for them. And yet, other educators might tell their students that generative AI is not allowed. In these cases, detection may help them address the issue earlier in the draft process. 

To help educators navigate this ever-evolving technology, Turnitin regularly publishes new  resources on academic integrity in the age of AI including guides for conversations with students, rubrics to AI-proof writing prompts, and an AI misuse checklist, among several others. In the spirit of transparency, Turnitin will continue to update the public on progress across its detection technology at  Turnitin.com/solutions/ai-writing.

*As of June 30, 2023. 

About Turnitin
​Turnitin is a global company dedicated to ensuring the integrity of education and meaningfully improving learning outcomes. For more than 20 years, Turnitin has partnered with educational institutions to promote honesty, consistency, and fairness across all subject areas and assessment types. Turnitin products are used by educational institutions and certification and licensing programs to uphold integrity and increase learning performance, and by students and professionals to do their best, original work.

Turnitin has offices in Australia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Over 16,000 academic institutions, publishers, and corporations use Turnitin services: Gradescope by Turnitin, iThenticate, Turnitin Feedback Studio, Turnitin Originality, Turnitin Similarity, ExamSoft, ProctorExam, and Ouriginal.

COSTA MESA, Calif. — BenQ, an internationally renowned provider of visual display solutions, announced that the ANTON learning app is now available on BenQ Boards. Trusted by over 15 million learners and teachers in over 60,000 schools, the ANTON learning app features learning material across a multitude of subjects, with the goal of making learning fun for students and easy for teachers to create and deliver engaging lessons. This partnership strengthens BenQ’s commitment to providing direct access to the apps and learning software that educators use daily from their BenQ Boards for a more streamlined, future-ready classroom.

“We’re steadfast in our mission to make it as easy as possible for educators to use the BenQ Board while helping students achieve great outcomes,” said Bob Wudeck, senior director of business development at BenQ Education. “ANTON is widely used by thousands of teachers. This is a great addition to the many resources now available in our BenQ Boards and is another step in bridging the gap between traditional teaching methods and cutting-edge technology that will help teachers shape the future of learning.”

The ANTON learning app and online learning portal are part of a standards-aligned curriculum available in multiple languages. Boasting over 100,000 exercises and 200 exercise types, it contains interactive elements, feedback, games, and explanations aimed at supporting and engaging young people in learning. It covers English, math, science, social studies, languages, and music, following set lessons with exercises in each topic. Users are able to select the subject that they wish to focus on and then follow scaffolded exercises developed to help them understand the material. Students can earn coins through their learning to spend on fun games and avatars.  Teachers are able to create classes, assign homework, and track the learning progress of their students. This information can then be used to personalize any learning or to bridge the learning between school and home.

“This partnership brings an unparalleled level of interactive learning to classrooms and beyond,” said Lea Meyer, U.S. manager at ANTON. “With the ANTON learning app now available on BenQ Boards, learners of all ages can delve into the dynamic world of engaging content, interactive exercises, and immersive educational experiences. This adds another layer of support for our educators.”

The BenQ Boards are purpose-built for teachers so that they can provide exciting learning opportunities from the moment they sign on. Encouraging active participation in class while protecting student and teacher health, the germ-resistant BenQ Boards boast BenQ’s Tap ‘N Teach technology, which features one-tap NFC log-in to load lesson materials and interactive teaching apps, cloud storage, settings, and tools instantly and securely. The smart boards also feature a germ-resistant screen, pen, and remote; split windows for multitasking; array microphones; 16W speakers with 16W Dolby Digital Plus surround sound; InstaShare wireless screen sharing; new Eyesafe® technology for reducing blue light emissions; and more.

Teachers can use their BenQ Board as a whiteboard, display, computer, and wireless screen-sharing system thanks to BenQ’s license-free EZWrite 6 software. It’s packed with classroom tools for all subjects, including timers, rulers, protractors, compasses, and more. EZWrite 6 also lets educators save whiteboard sessions in the cloud, allowing them to continue giving lessons at a later date or allowing students to access lessons on any device and refer to them later. They can also open documents and image files directly on the whiteboard to facilitate discussions. To complement the experience, the split-screen windows function enables multiple applications to be opened side by side — with no need to tap between content — making it even easier to conduct lessons and further comprehension.

More information on BenQ is available at www.BenQBoard.com.

About BenQ Education
BenQ Education is helping teachers shape the future of learning with interactive display solutions that maximize engagement in and out of the classroom while improving student performance. For over 10 years, BenQ has been the No.1-selling TI DLP projector brand worldwide, according to Futuresource, and is one of the leading interactive display vendors in North America. The award-winning BenQ Board is the first and only interactive display to feature TÜV- and SIAA-certified germ-resistant screens, interfaces, and pens as part of its purpose-built ClassroomCare technologies designed for healthier classrooms. The BenQ Board RP03 Series has been recognized as the first smart board to achieve Eyesafe^® Certification, the advanced blue light mitigation technology developed in concert with optometrists and ophthalmologists. Industry-recognized, BenQ’s Tap ‘N Teach technology for fast sign-on, EZWrite license-free annotation and whiteboard software, InstaShare wireless screen presentation system, and IT-friendly monitoring and management tools create exciting and intuitive active learning experiences. EZWrite 6 is also AWS Qualified, having passed Amazon Web Services (AWS) Foundational Technical Review (FTR), providing schools with assurance in security, reliability, and operational excellence. Educators can focus on giving lessons that leave an impact and give the leaders of tomorrow the tools they need to reach their maximum potential.​ The company’s products are available across North America through leading value-added distributors, resellers, and retailers. More information is available at www.BenQBoard.com.

All trademarks and registered trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners. 

RIDGELAND, Miss.–  SchoolStatus, a leader in K-12 data and communications, achieved new business milestones that demonstrate strong company momentum in the first half of 2023 and growing excitement about its solutions from educators and administrators across the country. To support the increasing demand for its solutions, the company has expanded its sales team by 42% this year and appointed Sarah Kiley as Senior Vice President of Sales to lead the team. SchoolStatus also added Michael Wolset as Vice President of People.

In the past six months, SchoolStatus grew its base of district partners, expanding to new states and districts. In June 2023, G2, the world’s largest independent software and services review platform, selected SchoolStatus for 24 awards including Best Support, Most Likely to Recommend, and Easiest to Use.

Rebecca Moye, Data Coordinator for Rome City Schools, in Rome, Georgia, shared that, “SchoolStatus is a pillar of our strategic plan at Rome City Schools to engage with stakeholders…Last year we had 98% engagement in the last 90 days.”

This continued momentum speaks to the value of the SchoolStatus portfolio of products, the trust educators and districts have in the software and services, and the increased demand for user-friendly, data-informed solutions that positively impact student outcomes.

“SchoolStatus continues to expand and innovate to offer leading solutions that address the current needs of K-12 districts and set students up for success,” said Russ Davis, CEO and founder of SchoolStatus. “Through a data-informed approach, our solutions are helping to build trust and positive, meaningful school-home relationships. This momentum speaks to the value and impact that our solutions are having on districts, educators, students, and families.”

New Personnel Appointments

SchoolStatus is pleased to welcome two key members to the leadership team.

Sarah Kiley, an accomplished executive with proven experience in growing revenue, increasing profitability, and driving customer satisfaction, brings more than 17 years of experience in sales and customer relationship building to SchoolStatus. She joins SchoolStatus from Parchment, a leader in academic credentials management, where she served as General Manager, K-12 & Professional. She holds a BBA from The George Washington University School of Business.

Michael Wolset, a strategic HR leader with vast knowledge in the SaaS space, brings more than 15 years in talent acquisition and development to the position. He joins SchoolStatus from The AES Corporation, a Fortune 500 global energy company, where he was the Director of M&A Integration and Product Training, and was responsible for delivering shareholder value through M&A integration activities globally. He holds a master’s degree in Instructional Technology from Saint Joseph’s University.

About SchoolStatus 

SchoolStatus provides data and communication solutions to support educator development, operational efficiencies, and student achievement. Its solutions portfolio includes  SchoolStatus,  Operoo,  TeachBoost,  School Innovations & Achievement, and  Smore. The product suite supports a K-12 ecosystem that utilizes data-informed communications and workflow automation to make educators’ lives easier while improving student outcomes. With more than 200 million successful parent-teacher interactions, and millions of users across all product lines, SchoolStatus drives meaningful results for districts across the US. For more information, visit  schoolstatus.com.

HOUSTON — Intervene K-12, a Houston-based online tutoring platform, is proud to announce that CEO and founder Aaron McCloud was recently named one of Houston’s “Most Admired” CEOs by the Houston Business Journal (HBJ). An independent panel from multiple industries selected the 49 honorees for the Houston Business Journal recognition based on their strategic leadership, career achievements, contributions to the greater Houston community and more. 

“The City of Houston has been an ideal home base for Intervene K-12 and I am honored to be recognized by the Houston Business Journal for the work we do to support more than 30,000 young scholars in our community and throughout the country,” said Aaron McCloud, founder and CEO of Intervene K-12. “While it feels great to be recognized as a leader, it is important to note that the work my team and I do is not self-serving. Everything we do is focused on serving scholars, as we work to equip them with the tools they need to flourish in the classroom, the community and the workforce.”

Intervene K-12 pairs data-driven instruction with high-dose online, small-group tutoring to help K-12 schools improve student outcomes through a fully integrated intervention program that drives measurable student growth. This outcome is achieved through deep analysis of student skill deficits, differentiated lessons and live online, small-group instruction, either during the school day or after school. Intervene K-12 provides tutoring in a variety of subjects, including math, reading, and English language support.

McCloud will be recognized with the other honorees in a special section of the Houston Business Journal’s Aug. 25 weekly edition and at an awards ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 24 at the Marriott Marquis Houston.

Earlier this year, McCloud was selected as an AFROTech Future 50 Changemaker, in recognition of the work Intervene K-12 does to reimagine and improve the world through advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and innovation in EdTech.

About Intervene K-12:

Founded in 2016, Intervene K-12 exists to eliminate the barriers that stand in the way of our nation’s students — especially those the system has left behind. Each year, the company works with 20+ districts and 30,000+ young scholars to provide high-impact, culturally-responsive tutoring for K-12 and English learners. Intervene K-12’s proprietary, data-driven intervention solutions are designed to identify and address the issues that keep individual students from excelling. Through a team of qualified tutors from education, corporate and business settings, the company works to empower academic progress, expose students to high-growth career opportunities and nurture social-emotional learning. The result is a holistic teaching model that equips scholars with the tools they need to flourish in and beyond the classroom, paving the way for long-lasting success. For more information, visit https://intervenek12.com/.

Charlotte, NC — Students across Indiana’s Vigo County School Corporation (VCSC) will add new, high-quality learning resources to their digital book bags this Fall thanks to a new partnership with worldwide edtech leader Discovery Education. In this new collaboration, Discovery Education will provide district students in grades K-12 exciting new digital and print services that will help them explore their curiosity about all subjects. In addition, district educators will receive in-depth professional learning opportunities that will help them integrate their new resources into instruction and create engaging lessons that prepare students for success beyond the classroom.

VCSC is one of Vigo County’s largest employers, serving nearly 14,000 students across three traditional high schools, five middle schools, 15 elementary schools, an alternative school, and a virtual school. VCSC works to build upon the strengths of their diverse community to create a comprehensive and engaging learning environment that supports the lifelong success of all students.

The VCSC community sees educational technology’s potential to advance relationships between teachers and their students, shrink long-standing accessibility gaps, and increase the depth of learning experiences for all children. So, to support district goals in the sciences and other academic disciplines, school administrators sought high-quality digital resources that featured hands-on components and could easily be integrated into teaching and learning. Following a thorough review of available solutions, VCSC’s administration selected the following Discovery Education resources for K-5 classrooms:

Discovery Education Experience. Connecting educators to a vast collection of high-quality, standards-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, intuitive quiz and activity creation tools, and professional learning resources, Discovery Education provides an enhanced learning platform that facilitates engaging, daily instruction in any environment. These resources, sourced from trusted partners, are aligned to state and national standards and help educators bring the outside world into teaching and learning every day.  Through expanded, lasting partnerships with Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas, Brightspace, and Clever, integrating Discovery Education’s K-12 learning platform into existing IT architecture is easier than ever.

Discovery Education Science Techbooks. The Discovery Education Science Techbook series is a comprehensive, research-backed science solution for grades K-12. Used in classrooms across the United States, the Science Techbooks for elementary students drives engagement with exclusive, interactive digital content and companion printed resources. The virtual and hands-on investigations, STEM activities, and instructional supports within Techbook enhance the delivery of impactful, blended instruction, in person or at a distance. Available with the Science Techbooks are coordinated teacher guides offering unit, concept, and lesson overviews, standards connections, and differentiation activities that inform instructional planning and guide three-dimensional learning. Teacher editions also provide flexible pacing options, embedded teacher notes, and pathways for learning that support diverse learners.

Mystery Science. Mystery Science, which joined the family of Discovery Education services in 2020 and has won SIIA’s Best Science Instructional Solution CODiE award for Grades PK-8, provides K-5 educators simple-to-use, open-and-go, hands-on lessons that inspire students to love science. Each lesson begins by posing a question commonly asked by young students. Students then explore these questions through interactive videos featuring real-world visuals fostering a sense of wonder and actively supporting student engagement in the accompanying discussion prompts. Mystery Science simplifies prep for teachers, making the integration of this resource into classroom instruction simple. Plus, all K-5 science lessons are now available in Spanish, with accompanying videos featuring authentic Spanish narration and Spanish text-on-screen (for discussion questions, vocabulary words, and step-by-step instructions). Editable, ready-to-use worksheets and assessments are also available in both English and Spanish.

Discovery Education Experience and the Science Techbook for Chemistry and Physics will also be used by VCSC’s high school students and educators, as will Discovery Education’s Pivot Interactives service. Pivot, which joined the Discovery Education family of services in 2022, makes teaching science with active learning and scientific phenomena engaging and easy. Launched in 2012 by two visionary educators, the platform provides users with more than 10,000 authentic, video-based science interactives crafted by Pivot’s expert curriculum team and teacher community. These resources, tied to state and national standards, are infused with research-based teaching practices and are simple to integrate throughout the instructional cycle.

In addition to digital resources, all VCSC educators using Discovery Education services will receive dedicated professional development from Discovery Education’s team of professional learning experts. These learning opportunities for teachers help school systems recognize the full return on their edtech investment. Through these interactive professional development sessions, participants will learn best practices for integrating their new digital resources into instruction. Effective professional development increases student engagement in learning and supports the continued academic development of all students.

Finally, all VCSC educators now enjoy access to the Discovery Education Network. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Education Network connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable idea sharing and inspiration.

“Discovery Education is thrilled to partner with the talented team at the Vigo County School Corporation,” said Kyle Talavera, Discovery Education’s Manager of Education Partnerships. “Their dedication to thoughtfully integrating technology into instruction advances their mission to support the success of all students. We are excited to be a part of this important work.”

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning services—which can be purchased with federal stimulus funds—visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting 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. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com. 

ANDERSON, S.C — Since the rise of the pandemic and the isolation of quarantine, a surge of concern regarding children’s mental and social health has been the forefront for parents across the world. Roylco, Inc- an upstate South Carolina based educational toy manufacturer- has grasped these concerns in consideration for their products. With the release of their new STEAM product line alongside their additional educational classroom aids, each product provides an outlet for children to master mental, emotional, and social health (MESH) in and outside the classroom.

MESH- an acronym discovered by ThinkFun in partnership with child development expert Deborah Gilboa, MD., – confronts the escalating apprehension around children’s mental health. This concept was developed to raise awareness for both industry specific and non-specific professionals to promote resiliency through play. For more information visit meshhelps.org.

“Roylco has taken all factors of MESH into consideration to develop thought provoking, confidence boosting, teamwork building educational play for young children to build a bridge into understanding their mental, social, and emotional health” says Darby Smith, Business Developer at Roylco.

From interactive emotional support puppets to stackable texturized sensory beads, each product contains MESH benefits focused on problem solving, storytelling, increasingly difficult challenges, and collaborative play. You can find Roylco products on Amazon, retail toy stores near you, or visit roylco.com to explore the wide variety of options.

About Roylco, Inc
Roylco is a manufacturer of educational toys, arts & crafts products, and classroom teaching aids. As a family owned and operated business dating back to 1969, the goal is to empower educators and parents with accessible, practical, and cost-effective products that take education from ordinary to extraordinary. Regardless of age, gender, race, culture, or physical and mental capacity, Roylco will inspire an interest of learning and creative spirit that will last a lifetime.

NEW YORK – SmartPass, a digital solution for hallway management, expands its SmartPass Hall Pass product by adding three new products SmartPass Flex, SmartPass Attendance, and SmartPass ID Cards (which is completely free for schools) to support educators with student management tasks throughout the school day.

“We found that our customers were jury rigging our hall pass product to use it for other needs,” said Peter Luba, CEO of SmartPass. “We listened to their feedback and created new products built for specific student movement management tasks. They got a great reception at ISTELive 23 and we look forward to helping more schools manage student movement through technology.”

More than 1,000 schools across the country use SmartPass to manage hall passes, improve time on task, reduce disruptions, and help ensure all students feel safe and are accounted for while at school. In addition to SmartPass Hall Pass, SmartPass now offers:

• SmartPass Flex:  Built directly into SmartPass, schools can create new schedules for Flex periods that work alongside existing passes and calendars. Teachers can set up a Flex period based on a block of time, whether it’s every day, once per week, etc. and students can sign up for educator offerings such as enrichment activities, academic support, club meetings, outdoor activities, making up a test, etc. during the flex period.
• SmartPass Attendance: Schools can easily capture attendance data by setting up a computer or Chromebook by the door to the classroom so students can sign in and be counted directly in SmartPass. It will show teachers and administrators which students are present, absent, or late to class. If a student arrives late to class, they will be marked as late — and a default timestamp is recorded of how much time they missed of that class.
• Free SmartPass ID Cards: Schools can use this secure, free solution for students to use to scan for attendance, cafeteria purchases, library books, etc. It takes schools less than five minutes to create, customize, and distribute digital SmartPass ID cards through SmartPass’ secure communication with the school’s student information system.

SmartPass’ one-touch technology makes managing hall passes easier and less stressful thanks to built-in options like wait-in-line, encounter prevention, and room restrictions. To learn more about SmartPass and schedule a demo, visit www.smartpass.app/get-started.

About SmartPass
SmartPass brings together Hall Passes, IDs, Flex time, and Attendance to create a unified, panoramic view of student movement throughout school buildings and across school campuses. More than 1 million educators and students are using SmartPass to increase instruction time, decrease disruptions, making student movement easier and less stressful for everyone. For more information, please visit www.smartpass.app.

Dallas, TX (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Istation, a leader in educational technology, announced today that the West Virginia Department of Education has selected Istation as a K-3 formative assessment for literacy, numeracy, and indicators of dyslexia selection criteria. This approval will empower schools and districts across West Virginia to implement Istation’s Indicators of Progress (ISIP) assessment to measure readiness in critical skills, identify learning barriers, and improve instructional approaches. 

“This news means classrooms across West Virginia will receive screening tools to help educators implement an evidence-based approach to learning.” said Vice President of Research and Assessments, Victoria Locke, Ph.D., “During the 2023-2024 school year, K-3 student achievement benchmarks will directly benefit from having Istation available.”

With the goal of improving student grade-level proficiency for early learners in reading and mathematics, the Third Grade Success Act requires every school to establish a process for ensuring the developmental and academic progress of all students with evidence-based tools. 

Istation’s reading and math assessment provides an evidence-based method for evaluating literacy skills, core math competencies, and dyslexia risk factors by offering benchmark assessment resources that facilitate universal screening more than three times a year.

Inside Istation, educators get easy-to-read assessment data and personalized profiles with relevant information on students’ progress. These real-time reports include both graphical and contextual analyses for each student so teachers can adapt instruction to meet every student’s unique needs. Plus, teachers are able to continuously monitor skills that are predictors of later success.

Learn how Istation’s formative assessment helps educators provide effective intervention to each student. 

About Istation

For over 25 years, educators have turned to Istation as an all-in-one solution for online assessment, instruction, and personalized learning. With Istation, schools get a time-saving program that powers pre-K through eighth grade student achievement in reading, math, and Spanish literacy. Rooted in research and designed to ignite student joy in the classroom, Istation’s innovative platform drives instructional efficacy and elevates learning to superhero heights! 

AMERICAN FORK, UTAH (PRWEB) — YouScience®, the leading technology provider dedicated to closing the growing skills gap between students and employers, is proud to announce that it has administered over 1 million certification exams to high school students across the U.S., during the 2022-23 academic year. With  industry-recognized certifications, students can demonstrate and quantify their skills to share with future employers. This significant milestone illustrates the company’s commitment to bridging the skill and labor gap in the United States and equipping the future workforce with essential industry skills.

The nation faces a  critical challenge in matching available jobs with skilled workers. As industries evolve and technology advances at a rapid pace, traditional education systems struggle to keep up with the changing demands of the labor market. Recognizing this pressing issue, YouScience has developed a  comprehensive solution to empower high school students and ensure they possess the necessary skills for success in the workforce.

With its innovative platform,  YouScience® Brightpath, the company offers students an opportunity to explore their aptitudes, interests, and strengths, providing them with valuable insights into potential career paths. The platform utilizes a unique combination of aptitude testing and career discovery tools, enabling students to identify and align their natural abilities with the skills required in various industries.

To address the skill and labor gap further, YouScience collaborates with industry experts to develop rigorous certification programs that validate students’ competencies in specific fields using the  YouScience® Industry Certifications. These certifications provide a tangible demonstration of proficiency and equip students with a competitive advantage in the job market. They also cover various industries, including technology, healthcare, manufacturing, finance, and more, ensuring students have access to diverse career opportunities.

Key takeaways of YouScience® Industry Certifications:

• Over 1 million industry-recognized exams have been administered to high school students during the 2022-23 academic year.
• 43 states, 848 districts, and 1,635 schools across the United States participated in these exams.
• YouScience® Industry Certifications are the nation’s most extensive library of industry-recognized exams with over 200 entry- to mid-level certifications available. Exams are available for all  16 National Career Clusters including 21st Century Skills.

“Administering 1 million industry-recognized exams is a great achievement,” said Edson Barton, CEO of YouScience. “This is a testament to our commitment to equipping the next generation with the skills they need to thrive in the workforce. We believe that by bridging the gap between education and industry, we can create a brighter future for both students and employers.”

YouScience’s impact extends beyond individual students, as it plays a vital role in building a stronger economy by addressing the skill shortage across various industries. By fostering partnerships with educational institutions, employers, and policymakers, YouScience aims to amplify its efforts and scale its impact, ultimately driving economic growth and prosperity.

About YouScience

YouScience® is the leading technology provider dedicated to solving the skills and exposure gap crisis for students and employers. Its end-to-end platform, YouScience® Brightpath, connects education with career applications designed to help students unlock their potential for future pathways. YouScience leverages proven research, artificial intelligence, and industry input to help individuals identify their aptitudes, validate their skills and knowledge, and get matched with real-world educational and career pathways in high-demand occupations. YouScience is the preferred choice of individuals, parents, educators, and counselors to guide and support educational and career pathways, currently serving more than 7,000 educational institutions and millions of users nationwide.

Charlotte, NC ) — To keep students engaged in learning while on summer break, Discovery Education and select partners have created free dynamic digital resources for students and caregivers to use at home. Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. 

The following selection of family activities that connect families to engaging learning experiences anywhere learning is taking place:  

Build the Change: Take the power of play beyond the classroom with collaborative activities that inspire students and families to learn through play by solving creative challenges as a team while exploring their own local environments with these activities from Build the Change, a program by the LEGO Group’s sustainability team. 

Conservation Station: Explore the unexpected connections at the heart of the energy-water nexus and discover how to conserve water and energy with engaging at home activities from Conservation Station: Creating a More Resourceful World—an educational initiative with Itron.  

Pathway to Financial Success in Schools: Nationally recognized with the Jump$tart Coalition’s 2021 Innovation Award, Pathway to Financial Success in Schools is a personal finance education resource with Discover Financial Services. These family resources are easy-to-use resources to help families conduct very important conversations with your teens. Students can take the learning further with 40 self-paced modules that turn what they learn into practice.  

Science at Home: 3M’s Science at Home video series is a collection of simple, watch-then-do science experiments that feature 3M scientists and special guests using common household items to reinforce core scientific principles and make STEM learning more accessible. Through these at home activities, STEM solution seekers can experience scientific phenomenon through creative and fun projects that range from engineering with marshmallows, to chemistry with baking soda. 

STEM Forward with Olympic Swimmer Katie Ledecky: Join Katie Ledecky, 3-time Olympian, 7-time Olympic Gold medal swimmer, proud STEM advocate and Team Panasonic athlete, for an immersive deep dive into game-changing technology that powers society and enhances our lives. The Winning with STEM Virtual Field Trip created in partnership with Panasonic transports students to five Innovation Centers across America with the accompanying family activity that connects STEM principles to everyday life.  

Working in Harmony: Inspire collaborative learning experiences through Country Music. Celebrate the power of STEAM with easy-to-use activities designed to bring the whole family together by creating a backyard light show and music production. These activities are from Working in Harmony, a partnership with the Country Music Association. 

“At Discovery Education, we’re committed to preparing learners for tomorrow by creating innovative learning experiences connected to today’s world. That means keeping learning alive, and exciting, during the summer,” said Amy Nakamoto, Executive Vice President of Social Impact at Discovery Education. “These partners have stepped up to ensure all students can continue learning.” 

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources—which can be purchased with federal stimulus funds—and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn. 

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About Discovery Education 
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting 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. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com. 

FREEPORT, Maine – Wayside Publishing^®, the fastest-growing, U.S.-based K–12 world languages publisher, announces the acquisition of Lit^®, a leading creator of comprehensible input animated video stories. 

Wayside Publishing has been in business since 1988 and creates proficiency-based print and digital world language programs and Comprehension-based Readers. With a focus on innovation, Wayside continues to expand their range of creative and time-saving technologies for educators—ones that also provide students with engaging and supportive learning-enhancement tools. 

“We will immediately begin using the Lit library of videos to enhance new and future products, and the in-house video production will allow us to create content faster and at a lower cost,” said Wayside President Greg Greuel. “The combination of Lit content with our products will enhance our offerings and add to what our customers have been asking from us.” 

“I am grateful to the Wayside team for recognizing the value of our language learning approach,” said Founder and CEO of Lit, Mati Amin. “This acquisition brings significant benefits to Wayside’s customers, as they will now have access to Lit’s engaging animated stories and activities that foster contextualized language learning. With Wayside empowering teachers and learners and fostering a love of languages and cultures, the future of world language education is bright.” 

About Wayside Publishing^®: Wayside creates innovative teaching and learning products to meet the needs of world language classrooms today and in the future. Their suite of print resources is complemented by leading-edge classroom technology solutions that bring together the written word and flexible digital tools. Wayside is positioned to continue rapid growth as more and more teachers, district leaders, and state review committees choose their proficiency-based products. 

About Mati Amin: Educator and entrepreneur Mati Amin has chosen to sell Lit, in part, to focus on creating applications that help girls in Afghanistan receive an education. Mati is on the board of SOLA, the School of Leadership, Afghanistan, founded by his wife, Shabana Basij-Rasikh. 

FOLSOM, CALIF. – PowerSchool (NYSE: PWSC), the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education in North America, today announced the release of My PowerSchool, a cohesive user experience that consolidates all relevant information and applications into a single, streamlined platform. My PowerSchool simplifies how families interact with their children’s school and how school technology leaders manage their PowerSchool solutions by providing a central point of access based on if the user is an educator, student, or family member. My PowerSchool Family, the first release of the My PowerSchool experiences, will be available in the fall, allowing families and educators to share one source of information, including grades, attendance, assignments, calendar, completed and in-progress forms, behavior, and fees, in a seamless experience.

“My PowerSchool marks a significant milestone in empowering the education community,” said Marcy Daniel, Chief Product Officer, PowerSchool. “This new release will provide an upgraded experience to families using the current family portal in PowerSchool SIS and showcases our commitment to providing user-centric solutions that streamline processes, enhance communication, and foster collaboration among families, staff, and administrators.”

My PowerSchool Family will provide users with multiple benefits including:

• An enhanced family experience: Families will now have a comprehensive view of their child’s educational journey, eliminating the need to switch between different systems. From assignments and grades to attendance and fee payments, all information will be consolidated into a single, intuitive interface. My PowerSchool is designed to help foster increased family engagement and accountability, and support student success through collaborative efforts between families and teachers.
• Streamlined administrative account management: Administrators will save valuable time by eliminating the hassle of managing multiple accounts for separate systems. System administrators will have a unified user management system, reducing the complexity of managing individual users and providing staff with a modern authentication system.
• Empowering students: My PowerSchool puts students at the center of their educational journey. By logging in with a single account, students gain easy access to all relevant school information. They can stay organized, prioritize tasks, and plan their studies effectively. With visibility into assignments, grades, test dates, and project deadlines, students can take charge of their learning, supported by engaged families and teachers.

Additional My PowerSchool experiences, including the educator and administrator experiences, will be available in the coming months.

About PowerSchool

PowerSchool (NYSE: PWSC) is the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education in North America. Its mission is to power the education ecosystem with unified technology that helps educators and students realize their full potential, in their way. PowerSchool connects students, teachers, administrators, and parents, with the shared goal of improving student outcomes. From the office to the classroom to the home, it helps schools and districts efficiently manage state reporting and related compliance, special education, finance, human resources, talent, registration, attendance, funding, learning, instruction, grading, assessments and analytics in one unified platform. PowerSchool supports over 50 million students globally and more than 15,000 customers, including over 90 of the top 100 districts by student enrollment in the United States, and sells solutions in over 90 countries. Visit  www.powerschool.com to learn more.

© PowerSchool. PowerSchool and other PowerSchool marks are trademarks of PowerSchool Holdings, Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

Santa Barbara, CA — The summer break gives district and school administrators time to evaluate the efficacy of the approaches they used in the previous academic year and create new strategies as needed. To help educators increase the support that both students and teachers receive from family engagement, ParentSquare, the award-winning unified school-home engagement platform for K12 education, has compiled resources for improving school-home communications in the upcoming school year.

The primary resource is the company’s updated “Back-to-School Checklist For Successful School-Home Communications,” a comprehensive list for organizing and implementing critical tasks. Based on ParentSquare’s experience of working with thousands of schools and districts for more than a decade, the checklist includes:

• 4 steps to help readers take stock of what’s working and where to improve
• 5 ways to benchmark your processes and plans against K12 best practices
• 6 items to include in your annual communications plan
• 6 set-up or administrative tasks
• 7 key launch activities to start your year off right

The checklist also includes a “Other Back-to-School Tasks” section where users can add items that are specific to their school or district.

“We’ve made the checklist available as both a PDF and an interactive Google Sheet,” ParentSquare President and Founder Anupama Vaid said. “We’ve also added relevant resources and tools to the checklist items that includes our own tools and resources as well as external ones where relevant. For example, beside the checklist item for completing a retrospective on what did and didn’t work, we added a link to ConceptBoard retrospective templates.”

ParentSquare has created a second checklist that focuses on family engagement. Titled “7 Ways to Maximize Family Engagement When K12 Goes Back-to-School,” this checklist is organized into seven categories, each containing three or four task items:

1. Treating families as partners at every level

2. Consolidating tools and reducing time-consuming tasks

3. Reaching families where they already are (e.g., preferred languages and channels)

4. Creating a welcoming environment for families

5. Collaborating with the community

6. Training families, staff and students before school starts

7. Supporting families through non-school-related challenges

In addition, ParentSquare has compiled a comprehensive selection blog posts that provide back-to-school communications advice and guidance for educators at specific school and district levels:

• 8 Tips for School Technology Leaders Preparing for a Successful New School Year
• Back-to-School Communication Tips and Strategies for Principals: Building Strong Connections for a Successful Year
• Effective Back-to-School Communication: Tips and Strategies for Teachers
• School Communications Leaders: Tips for Managing Time and Mental Health During Back-to-School Season
• Welcoming Staff Back to School: 6 Strategies for Superintendents

“Education leaders can use the tips from the relevant blog posts and items from the family engagement checklist to round out the ‘Other Back-to-School Tasks’ section in the comprehensive ‘Back-to-School Checklist’ offering,” added Vaid. “But they could also opt to keep the two checklists separate or use the resources in some other way that works for them. Our goal is to help educators feel assured that nothing is falling through the cracks and that they’ll be starting the new school year with their best foot forward.”

About ParentSquare

ParentSquare is the leading provider of modern family and community engagement solutions for K-12 schools. Millions of educators and families in 49 states rely on the multipurpose unified platform that includes mass notifications, classroom communications, school websites, and other communication-based services, all supported by visual dashboards. ParentSquare’s technology platform features comprehensive integrations with school administrative systems, translation to more than 100 languages, and app, email, text, voice, and web portal access for equitable communication. Founded in 2011, the company is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA. Learn more at https://www.parentsquare.com.

WOBURN, Mass. – The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) has selected FEV Tutor as an approved tutoring service in the state’s new Connecticut High-Dosage Tutoring (HDT) Program. The HDT program is a new state initiative that aims to accelerate mathematics recovery for priority students in grades six through nine during the 2023-24 academic year. School districts that successfully apply to the program will receive a brief list of vetted and approved tutor providers, including FEV Tutor, as well as grant funds for implementing tutoring services.

The HDT program’s classification of “priority students” includes:

– Students with disabilities

– Students receiving free- or reduced-priced meals

– English learners

– Students performing below proficiency

– Students experiencing homelessness

– Students who have been chronically absent

“Connecticut’s 2022 Smarter Balanced assessment scores indicated that students in grades six through eight may be a year or more behind in math. Students classified as ‘priority’ are the ones most likely to be struggling to get back on track,” said CEO of FEV Tutor, Jim Tormey. “CSDE has selected a well-researched strategy to address those students’ needs. We are honored to have been chosen to be part of the state’s commitment to learning recovery.”

Since 2010, FEV Tutor’s targeted high-impact tutoring intervention has focused on accelerating learning outcomes for the hardest to reach low-performing students.

Today it offers a proven model for integrating with the academic ecosystem of partner districts and driving growth based on results that matter to educators. It takes a consultative and collaborative approach to designing personalized tutoring initiatives while grounding plans in districts’ core academic goals and initiatives, student demographic data, and pre-existing assessment results along with research pillars for effective tutoring from the Annenberg Institute. FEV Tutor’s offering also meets the Level Two Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the national education law that helps ensure success for students and schools. In addition, FEV Tutor earned the Research-Based Design Product Certification from Digital Promise and continues to pursue industry-leading product certifications and accolades.

The quality of FEV Tutor’s services has garnered broad industry recognition; in 2022 the company won a Tech & Learning “Back to School” Award of Excellence and an Educators Pick Best of STEM Award. It has also been recognized as EdTech Digest’s 2021 Cool Tool for Best Tutoring Solution and as the 2021 Best Tutoring/Test Prep App or Tool by Tech Edvocate.

“FEV Tutor has a track record of closing equity and achievement gaps for priority and high needs students,” added Tormey. “Every single student deserves access to learning opportunities, especially those that address learning recovery. This problem needs urgent and ongoing support, and we’re thrilled to partner with Connecticut districts to deliver best-in-class, live 1:1 high impact tutoring for their students.”

About FEV Tutor

Based in Boston, FEV Tutor is the leading research and evidence-based online tutoring platform working nationally to effect change in K-12 education. Its ESSA-approved programs are strategically designed in close collaboration with each partner school, district, charter school, and other organizations to accelerate learning for every student. FEV Tutor leverages technology to deliver 1:1 high-impact and transformative personalized learning pathways through live, virtual tutoring sessions. For more information on FEV Tutor, visit fevtutor.com or follow on Twitter

CARMEL, Ind. – Ellipsis Education, a leader in computer science curriculum for K-12 education, has launched the Curriculum Delivery Platform (CDP) that will provide everything educators need to teach computer science in one place.

The CDP is an online portal where teachers access and navigate Ellipsis courses. Designed to be mobile-responsive, the CDP makes the curriculum teachers know and love easier to use. Features of the CDP include:

• Streamlined organization; 
• Increased access to resources; 
• Improved look and feel;
• Access to a standards map on the lesson-level page; and 
• Easier movement between courses.

“We hope that teachers will find this delivery tool efficient to use and attractive to view,” said Dr. Whitney Dove, CEO at Ellipsis Education. “Our goal is to put the curriculum at teachers’ fingertips, so they spend less time gathering their materials and more time doing what they do best—teaching!”

With the new CDP, teachers will only see the courses they have access to, color-coded by grade band, on their home screen. Tiles on the homescreen will also provide important information about course structure, such as number of days, along with quick access to course-level resources. A “Course Details” page provides days of instruction to make it easier to group lessons. It also offers important lesson-level information such as lesson title, type, length and sequence, with easy access to information such as activity descriptions, standards addressed, and materials and additional lesson-level resources. The “Lesson Detail” page offers the full lesson plan on the left of the screen along with all materials and resources needed to teach it linked on the right.

“As someone who has used the curriculum for the past three years, I was so excited to try out the new Ellipsis Education platform,” said Crystal Kistler, middle school teacher and Ellipsis Education customer. “I just LOVE the new platform for instructional materials. The new format for each lesson is much more user-friendly than the previous format. In addition to the Syllabus, Pacing Guide, and Standards Map located in the header of the home page for my course, lesson materials are easily accessed right at your fingertips and a click away, without looking for links within the lesson plan. Bravo on the new format!”

Users new to Ellipsis Education will automatically be set up and ready to use the new CDP. Current users have the option to use the new CDP as of June 1, 2023. Administrators who wish to switch their teachers over to the platform can email support@ellipsiseducation.com to request the transition. All teachers will have access to the new platform as of January 1, 2024.

For more information, interested educators can visit EllipsisEducation.com.

About Ellipsis Education
Ellipsis Education is removing barriers to teaching computer science. In every K-12 course, Ellipsis delivers all the curriculum, resources, and support needed for teachers to build confidence and capacity. The curriculum includes detailed lesson plans (beyond just coding), pacing guides, standards maps, and training. With school and district partners, Ellipsis Education is imagining a world where all learners have equitable access to high-quality computer science education. For more information visit EllipsisEducation.com.

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (PRWEB) — TouchMath announces the release of  DySc, the comprehensive dyscalculia screener and individualized intervention guide aligned to American Pschiatric Associations The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) and available at no cost. TouchMath, a multisensory math program that makes learning foundational math concepts accessible and clear for students who struggle to understand grade-level content, designed the DySc to identify students as young as three who may be at risk for dyscalculia, a specific learning disability in mathematics.

Widely underdiagnosed,  dyscalculia is a neurodevelopmental learning disorder estimated to affect  3-7% of the worldwide population. Early screening for dyscalculia and evidence-based interventions are critical to addressing the learning disorder’s short- and long-term educational, personal, and social impacts. The DySc offers educators and parents a valid assessment to detect early math difficulties and provide targeted interventions.

“We’ve developed the DySc, a free screener, as a powerful tool to recognize the critical role of early identification and intervention in addressing learning difficulties, paving the way for academic success and beyond,” stated Dr. Sandra Elliott, Chief Academic Officer at TouchMath. “Similar to the effectiveness of routine screenings for hearing, vision, and dyslexia, we firmly believe that schools should prioritize early math screening to unleash the potential of every child. With the DySc, we’re equipping educators and parents with a comprehensive screening solution that not only identifies dyscalculia but also provides evidence-based interventions to foster students’ mathematical development.”

The DySc aims to address the need for an accessible and efficient dyscalculia screener that can be used as early as age three and throughout adulthood. By accurately assessing individuals struggling with mathematical concepts and skills, the DySc enables timely intervention and support, minimizing academic struggles in later years. When compared to other available screening tools, the DySc goes beyond identifying math difficulties and skill by grade level and instead assesses critical areas of mathematical performance outlined in the DSM-5-TR. Skills assessed include number sense, math facts memorization, calculations, reasoning, and problem-solving.

TouchMath built the DySc screening tool to be easily administered by school-based professionals, early childhood educators, and parents for learners in the following age bands: 3-4, 5-7, 8 and up. Standardization of delivery enabled by the web-based tool ensures the most accurate results. Upon completion of the screener and the survey, DySc will generate a report that consists of four key outputs, including:

• Results of the DySc screener
• Copy of the DySc educator/guardian survey
• Recommended action plan
• Recommended intervention plan based on the learner’s results

“With an estimated three million students in the United States alone living with dyscalculia, the DySc is a vital tool to support these individuals in reaching their full potential,” said Sean Lockwood, CEO of TouchMath. “There is still much more work to do, but this paves the way for us to better understand this learning disability and how students can benefit from early screening and intervention. Together, we can cultivate success and ensure that individuals of all abilities and learning styles thrive in their mathematical journey.”

The DySc screening tool takes up to 15 minutes to complete. The free, web-based screening tool will also be available in Spanish during the fall of 2023. Visit  https://dysctest.com/ to access the free tool today.

To learn more about supporting learners with dyscalculia, visit  touchmath.com/dyscalculia-101.

About TouchMath
TouchMath provides a wide range of curriculum and tools for educators and their students who struggle to understand grade-level content. TouchMath is committed to maximizing student potential through its worldwide delivery of hands-more, visit  https://touchmath.com/.

Dundee, Scotland — GameMaker, the fast and friendly cross-platform game development engine, has introduced Space Rocks – a comprehensive new game design tutorial and lesson program for teachers and educators. 

“Space Rocks makes it easier than ever for schools and educators to introduce game design lessons to help boost student engagement and support STEM learning,” said Frank Moody, education liaison lead at GameMaker, adding: “Not only are the CSTA standards-based lesson plans and materials absolutely free to use, but so is the latest version of GameMaker for Educators. Game on!”

Space Rocks has been developed in line with CSTA (Computer Science Teachers Association) standards, providing the perfect introduction to computational thinking concepts and game design principles. The tutorial provides all the written and video-based learning materials required to help students learn how to use GameMaker and create their own asteroid shooter game, in just three lessons. 

The lesson plans can also be arranged and tailored to cater for multiple learning ages, styles and abilities. Educators can also choose whether students learn using GameMaker’s intuitive visual programming method, GML Video, or the more traditional text-based language, GML Code. 

GameMaker for Educators is absolutely free for schools to use, regardless of class sizes. The free version allows students to share their games online via the GX.games platform. However, should schools require students to be able to share their games to mobile, console and PC platforms, then they will need to purchase a site license. 

GameMaker is a fast and friendly cross-platform game engine. With GameMaker it’s easy for students to learn the fundamentals of coding through its intuitive and powerful visual code system GML Visual. Originally designed as a platform for teaching children how to design games, GameMaker has been downloaded by millions of students and indie games creators and has been used to create hugely popular games, such as Undertale, Hyper Light Drifter and Chicory: A Colorful Tale. 

To start teaching game design to your students, visit gamemaker.io/en/education.

About GameMaker 

GameMaker is the fastest and friendliest cross-platform game engine.

GameMaker allows artists and creators to make games within a single code base and publish natively across multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, HTML5, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Windows Desktop, macOS, and Ubuntu.

GameMaker has been downloaded more than 12 million times. The team behind it is based in Dundee, Scotland. GameMaker was acquired by Opera in January 2021.

About Opera

Opera is a web innovator building on more than 25 years of innovation that started with the Opera web browser. While Opera is leveraging its brand and engaged user base in order to grow and develop new products and services for people who seek a better internet experience, Opera’s PC and mobile web browsers, content discovery platform Opera News, and apps dedicated to gaming, Web3 and e-commerce are already the trusted choices of hundreds of millions of active and engaged users. Opera is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and listed on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange under the OPRA ticker symbol. 

Download and access Opera’s products and services from www.opera.com.