Eastern Suffolk BOCES Selects Discovery Education Assessment
to Help Improve Student Achievement in Long Island Schools

Partnership offers effective assessment tool to 51 area school districts

Silver Spring, Md. (March 6, 2008) – Eastern Suffolk BOCES has selected Discovery Education Assessment to support its 51 member school districts in improving student achievement. Discovery Education Assessment’s continuous-improvement model of academic monitoring quickly and accurately identifies students’ problem skills, and its research-based benchmarks and reports enable educators to revise instruction, enhance learning and improve test scores. Research shows that 92 percent of schools using Discovery Education Assessment maintain or improve Annual Yearly Progress status.

The Eastern Suffolk Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), an educational cooperative of 51 Long Island, NY school districts, provides educational leadership, direct instruction, management and support through quality, cost-effective instructional programs and shared services. These programs and services maximize educational and career opportunities for Long Island’s diverse community of lifelong learners, both children and adults, and enhance the operational effectiveness of its schools.

“After looking at several other products, the ease of use and effectiveness of Discovery Education Assessment made this product our first choice in the world of online assessment,” said Andrew Setzer, Divisional Administrator at Eastern Suffolk BOCES. “The alignment to New York state standards and the backing by Discovery Education were important factors for us. Since our districts are responding so quickly and favorably, it seems we certainly made a good choice.”

The goal of every educator in the Eastern Suffolk BOCES is to help students maximize their full learning potential. Discovery Education Assessment programs measure student progress toward meeting New York state standards for reading/language arts, math and science. Additional resources and professional development tools help teachers focus instruction during the school year and improve student test scores on high-stakes examinations. Two years ago the Eastern Suffolk BOCES pioneered the use of streaming media in the classroom by partnering with Discovery Education to provide member school districts Discovery Education streaming, the only video-on-demand solution proven scientifically to improve student achievement. By selecting Discovery Education Assessment, Eastern Suffolk BOCES leaps to the forefront of national efforts to improve student performance in core subjects through academic monitoring.

“Discovery Education is delighted to partner with the Eastern Suffolk BOCES to improve student achievement on Long Island,” said Hardin Daniel, Discovery Education’s Vice President of Educational Assessment. “Discovery Education Assessment empowers teachers with research-based tools to monitor what students are learning and identify those concepts that may need additional attention. We are looking forward to working closely with area educators in our joint mission to improve student achievement.”

More Information

Download a brochure describing Discovery Education Assessment.

Visit www.discoveryeducation.com for additional information on Discovery Education Assessment and other products and services from Discovery Education, or call 800-323-9084.

About Discovery Education Assessment

Discovery Education Assessment, developed by ThinkLink Learning, a for-profit company founded by Vanderbilt University and a member company of Discovery Education, utilizes a unique scientific approach that matches diagnostic assessments to each state's high-stakes test. It predicts student proficiency, mastery, and AYP performance so teachers and administrators can see student NCLB results before they actually test.

With up to 90 percent predictive accuracy, Discovery Education Assessment serves as the most effective assessment solution available. It is also one of the most affordable. The program allows students to take up to three pre-configured, state-aligned tests throughout the school year in reading, language arts, math, and science, depending upon the preferences of the district. Testing requires less than one class period per subject and can be delivered online or on paper.

Ultimately, Discovery Education Assessment saves time for teachers, gives students realistic practice exams that help prepare them for the actual state test, and provides accurate student data that teachers can use to alter instruction. In addition, administrators have the benefit of being able to view and work with the right data for comparisons and district summaries.

About Discovery Education

Discovery Communications revolutionized television with the Discovery Channel and is now transforming classrooms through Discovery Education. Powered by the #1 non-fiction media company in the world, Discovery Education combines scientifically proven, standards-based digital media and a dynamic user community in order to empower teachers to improve student achievement. Already, more than half of U.S. schools access Discovery Education digital services.

Contacts

Discovery Education
Stephen Wakefield
240-662-2893
stephen_wakefield at discovery dot com
www.discoveryeducation.com

C. Blohm & Associates, Inc.
Sandy Fash
608-839-9800
sandy at cblohm dot com
www.cblohm.com