A unified K-12 framework, grounded in 20+ years of teaching and learning, that scales effective instruction and drives deeper student outcomes
CHARLOTTE, N. C., March 31, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Discovery Education today announced the Discovery Education Connected Ecosystem, a unified K-12 framework that embeds AI, instructional resources, adaptive learning, and professional readiness directly into the daily flow of teaching. Built on more than 20 years of teaching and learning excellence and trusted by 45% of U.S. K-12 schools, the Discovery Education Connected Ecosystem (“Ecosystem”) delivers trusted curriculum, intelligent tools, and responsive partnership as a single coherent approach.
According to a report by the Consortium for School Networking, more than half of U.S. school districts are now deploying AI, yet 72% leverage it only 10% of the time or less. As AI tools proliferate faster than guidance or trust can keep pace, Discovery Education’s approach is to bring new capabilities together within a coherent, instruction-centered framework.
The Discovery Education Connected Ecosystem is designed to support the transition to AI in K-12 by bringing together vetted, standards-aligned content, adaptive pathways, AI-powered instructional tools, and sustained professional learning. Grounded in classroom practice, it helps districts move beyond isolated technology solutions toward more consistent, system-wide use while building educator confidence and fluency over time. The Ecosystem also supports the broader context of this shift, including educators adapting to new expectations, families seeking assurance that technology is used responsibly, and students developing the skills needed to succeed in an AI-driven world.
“AI is not the answer. Great teaching is," said Brian Shaw, Chief Executive Officer at Discovery Education. "The Discovery Education Connected Ecosystem puts AI in service of instruction, directly in the flow of teaching, grounded in learning science, and built to move every student forward. As with past shifts in education technology, we remain focused on helping districts and educators navigate this transition with clarity and confidence."
Five Pillars of the Discovery Education Connected Ecosystem
The Discovery Education Connected Ecosystem is built on five foundational pillars with AI and the science of teaching and learning woven throughout to deliver the right resource, at the right moment, for every learner. The five pillars of the Discovery Education Connected Ecosystem include:
1. Trusted K-12 Content and Curriculum
A curated approach where every resource is reviewed and vetted by curriculum experts, and standards-aligned to ensure that what reaches students has been approved and district-aligned.
- NEW: Through our partnership with Otus, educators can access a conversational AI assistant that delivers personalized Discovery Education content recommendations based on student assessment data and district goals, supporting data-driven differentiation and planning.
- UPDATED: Educators can now select from 15 widely used curricula to find Discovery Education Experience resources aligned to their school’s requirements, enabling educators to more quickly build background knowledge, reinforce key concepts, and differentiate with confidence.
2. Adaptive and Personalized Learning
AI unlocks deeper personalization across the Ecosystem, with adaptive learning at the core of DreamBox Math.
- NEW: Focused Adaptive Pathways in DreamBox Math extends adaptive learning by giving districts the ability to prioritize the standards that matter most for grade-level success. Each student’s learning path dynamically aligns to these priorities—enabling more targeted, purposeful instruction at both the classroom and district level.
3. AI-Enhanced Instructional Tools
Intelligent recommendations and actionable insights embed AI safely into educators’ workflows, elevating instruction and saving time, while keeping educators firmly in control.
- UPDATED: Available in Discovery Education Experience, AI TeacherTools | Assess enables educators to quickly create high-quality, customized assessments using Discovery Education’s trusted, cross-curricular resources with options to tailor by reading level, standards, and district priorities.
- COMING SOON: DreamBox Math is extending its intelligence layer with an AI classroom assistant designed to surface real-time student learning insights and support real-time instructional decision-making.
- COMING SOON: MCP-powered integrations will give educators AI-enabled, secure access to standards- and curriculum-aligned Discovery Education resources, right from within their district’s approved AI agent.
4. Future-Ready Skills
Free-to-access resources help students build critical thinking and AI fluency, hone real-world problem-solving, and discovery, plus career-connected experiences that build durable skills.
- UPDATED: Through the Digital Citizenship Initiative — developed with Verizon and Norton, a part of Gen — the new AI Literacy Video Series helps students, families, and educators understand and responsibly navigate AI. Since 2025, the Digital Citizenship Initiative has reached over 685,000 students with strategies and resources to navigate safely online. The Initiative resources are available for free to all users. Discovery Education Experience users can access these resources on the Digital Citizenship Initiative Channel.
5. Professional Learning and Community
Integrated coaching, professional learning, and credentialing help educators confidently use the technologies their districts have adopted. Partner-backed experiences build AI literacy, provide clarity amid change, and offer sustained support that moves educators from uncertainty to confidence.
- NEW: Through a collaboration with IBM SkillsBuild, high school educators can now access free, workforce-aligned credential courses in AI, cybersecurity, and digital literacy. Over the next two years, IBM and Discovery Education aim to equip 100,000 educators with practical, industry-recognized training that integrates into existing professional development programs.
- NEW: Everyday Teaching Essentials is an asynchronous library of on-demand professional learning resources designed to take less than five minutes and be immediately transferable to classroom practice.
“Educators play a critical role in helping students move from learning about AI to applying it responsibly and with confidence,” said Lydia Logan, Vice President of Global Education and Workforce Development at IBM. “Through our IBM SkillsBuild and Discovery Education collaboration, we are focused on making it easier for teachers to access trusted, workforce-aligned training in AI and other emerging technologies and bring those skills into the classroom in practical ways.”
Safe and Governed, by Design
Discovery Education’s approach to AI is built on the security, compliance, and content guardrails districts need to deploy with confidence across every tool, content experience, and professional learning touchpoint. Discovery Education is SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certified and adheres to COPPA, FERPA, and applicable state-level privacy laws. All content is age-appropriate, vetted by curriculum experts, and standards-aligned, ensuring that what reaches students has been reviewed, not just retrieved.
“Trust in edtech isn't given; it's earned. At Discovery Education, that means student data is protected, every AI application is vetted, and nothing reaches a classroom without the right guardrails in place. That's not a constraint on innovation. That's what makes it worthwhile," said Travis Barrs, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Discovery Education.
Learn more about the Discovery Education Connected Ecosystem at www.discoveryeducation.com/ai-learning.
###
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is a global education technology leader whose innovative solutions empower educators and progress student learning. Discovery Education’s solutions have served more than 100 million students globally, supporting effective teaching and learning in 45% of U.S. K-12 schools and in 100+ countries and territories. The company’s portfolio includes award-winning core and supplemental curriculum, high-quality standards-aligned content, and AI-enabled teaching and learning tools. Solutions span math, science, literacy, social studies, and career-connected learning, including instructionally-aligned content developed through one-of-a-kind partnerships with industry leaders to bring real-world relevance into every lesson. Learn more at www.DiscoveryEducation.com.
Contact
Grace Maliska
Discovery Education
gmaliska@discoveryed.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9754bc8d-5565-4506-b973-54f2d75b4920
