Illinois' Peoria Public Schools (PPS) and Discovery Education—the global leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms—today launched a new partnership that supports teaching in-class, online, or wherever learning is taking place.  Through this multiyear collaboration, all PPS educators serving the district’s more than 13,700 students in grades K-12 are now empowered to integrate Discovery Education Experience into instruction and support students’ continuity of learning now and in the future, either in a classroom setting or at home.

 PPS is a rapidly growing, world class school system located three hours from St. Louis, Chicago, and Indianapolis.  The talented team of educators use time-tested, research-based teaching strategies, an engaging curriculum aligned to the highest standards, and the latest educational technologies to deliver differentiated instruction to all students.  With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, PPS sought a dynamic digital resource that would continue fostering the creativity and talents of the district’s students as it prepared and inspired them to succeed in our ever-expanding global economy. 

 Specifically, the district sought a resource that supports the continuity of learning in the in-class, remote, or hybrid scenarios; replaces existing supplemental solutions with one, collection of high-quality, standards-aligned vetted resources; and increases student engagement and rigor.  Following an extended trial, PPS selected Discovery Education Experience.

 Experience—Discovery Education’s flexible K-12 learning platform—connects educators to a vast collection of compelling high-quality, standards-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, and professional learning resources.  Together, these resources give educators everything they need to facilitate instruction in any learning environment and create lasting educational impact.  

 Discovery Education’s team continues adding, contextualizing, and organizing exciting new content and timely resources to Experience each month in response to current events and the ever-evolving needs of educators. 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. 

Finally, Experience is designed to work within school systems’ existing infrastructure and workflows.  Through expanded partnerships with Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas, and now Clever, integrating Experience into existing IT architecture is easier than ever.  

 “The COVID-19 Pandemic has made Peoria Public Schools and school districts across the country rethink how we can achieve our mission to ensure that each student reaches his or her full academic and personal potential and is a well-balanced citizen,” said Lisa Gifford, the district’s Literacy & Social Studies Coordinator.  “Tools like Discovery Education Experience, which support excellent, engaging instruction in either the physical classroom or remote environment, will play a critical role in helping Peoria’s teachers fulfill their mission now and in the future.”

 To help PPS educators integrate their new digital resources into instruction in the coming school year, Discovery Education will provide division teachers dedicated professional learning. Through these interactive professional development sessions, participants will learn best practices for integrating technology and digital content into teaching and learning in ways that will maximize the power of their digital resources, increase student engagement in instruction, and improve students’ academic achievement.

PPS’s new partnership with Discovery Education also provides district teachers access to the Discovery Education Community. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Education Community connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable networking, idea sharing, and inspiration.

“We are incredibly excited to be partnering with the Peoria Public Schools,” said Dak Jordan, Discovery Education Manager of Education Partnerships. “The district’s innovative approach to addressing the challenges of teaching in the COVID-19 era mark them as leaders in the effort to ensure the continuity of learning for all students.”

For more information about Illinois' Peoria Public Schools, visit the school system’s website here.

For more information about Discovery Education’s digital resources and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Facebook, follow us on Twitter at @DiscoveryEd, or find us on Instagram and Pinterest.

About Discovery Education

Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms. Through its award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia resources, and the largest professional learning network of its kind, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning, creating immersive STEM experiences, and improving academic achievement around the globe. Discovery Education currently serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 140 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to empower teachers with customized solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.