MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONTINUES TRANSFORMATION WITH DISTRICT-WIDE ADOPTION OF DIGITAL RESOURCES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
– Educators to Receive Extensive Professional Development Through New Digital Leader Network –
December 11, 2013
MIAMI (December 11, 2013) - Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS), the fourth largest school system in the nation, has announced that it has taken another step in its digital transformation by ensuring all of its students have access to tools that will prepare them to succeed in the 21st century. Through an expanded partnership withDiscovery Education, high-quality digital resources will now be provided in all classrooms throughout the district. To maximize the benefits of these resources, educators will receive customized professional development through the newly-created MDCPS Digital Leader Network, part of extensive infrastructure built to help facilitate the district's transition to a digital learning environment.
MDCPS is currently involved in an ongoing, coordinated effort to transform teaching and learning in the district by providing dynamic and interactive learning opportunities to all students. As part of its continued digital conversion, the district has now expanded its partnership with Discovery Education, the country's leading provider of K-12 digital content, to provide all of its 348 schools with Discovery Education Streaming Plus, a collection of rich multimedia assets aligned to state academic and testing standards, as well as Discovery Education Science, a multimedia curriculum supplement for elementary and middle school science education. In addition, district educators will be provided extensive professional development preparing them for life inside a digital classroom.
The winner of the 2012 Eli Broad Prize for Urban Education, MDCPS previously piloted these resources in a number of its Title I schools, which resulted in strong student engagement and dynamic learning experiences. Due in part to this success, the district was encouraged to expand its use of Discovery Education's digital services to all classrooms across the district.
This partnership is part of the district's $63 million plan to give all of its students access to digital resources. For a successful implementation, Alberto Carvalho, MDCPS Superintendent and 2013 Florida Superintendent of the Year, placed priority on extensive professional development and quality digital content before investing in costly devices.
"While many school districts across the country are leaping headfirst into the digital age by quickly purchasing expensive digital devices, MDCPS is executing a focused and thoughtful transformation plan that includes high-quality content, robust professional development and a strong infrastructure," Carvalho said. "In order to fully unlock these tools' potential, it's critical to implement these elements for success in transforming teaching and learning."
Through the newly created MDCPS Digital Leader Network, educators across the district will be provided with comprehensive and transformative professional development sessions. An improvement model for professional learning that puts teachers at the forefront of the superintendent's vision for a district-wide digital transformation, the Digital Leader Network will invest in building educators' capacity, skills and impact in the classroom. The educators chosen to participate in the Digital Leader Network will receive collective, concerted and sustained professional learning to build their professional capital, including experimentation with various instructional strategies and tools, as well as day-long professional development events over a period of three years. Digital Leaders will also be empowered to share best practices in instructional innovation with their colleagues.
"Discovery Education shares MDCPS' vision for how the combination of digital content and professional development can transform teaching and learning," said Coni Rechner, senior vice president, Discovery Education. "We look forward to continuing to support Superintendent Carvalho and his entire team as they continue their incredible work in Miami."
For more information about the MDCPS digital conversion initiative, visithttp://www.discoveryeducation.com//administrators/success-stories/miami-dade-county-public-schools-florida.cfm.
For more information on Discovery Education Streaming Plus and other Discovery Education services and initiatives, visit www.discoveryeducation.com.
About Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, America's fourth-largest school system with a diverse enrollment of 350,000 students from over 100 countries, offers innovative educational programs at its 435 schools, including elementary, middle, senior high schools and alternative, specialized and vocational centers. Students and their families have an active voice in choosing learning opportunities that foster academic excellence, school-to-career pathways and real-world learning.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content that supports the implementation of Common Core, professional development, assessment tools, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Available in over half of all U.S. schools, community colleges and in 50 countries around the world, Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that accelerate academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.
# # #