Charlotte, NC (Wednesday, June 18, 2025)—South Dakota’s Rapid City Area Schools (RCAS) today announced an expansion of its partnership with Discovery Education, the creators of essential PreK-12 learning solutions used in classrooms around the world. In this latest phase of collaboration, the district will receive new digital resources enhancing science instruction in grades 6-8 and social studies instruction in grades 9-12.
RCAS serves more than 12,000 students and employs more than 1,600 employees across western South Dakota. RCAS’s dedicated staff is committed to thoughtful planning, ongoing improvement, and academic excellence so that the students they serve graduate with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities to succeed.
In preparation for the 2025-2026 school year, RCAS undertook a comprehensive review of existing science and social studies instructional resources. Following this review, the district identified a need for new science materials aligned with the South Dakota Department of Education Science Standards for grades 6-8. In addition, the district review found that new world geography materials aligned to updated South Dakota state standards were also required for grades 9-12. Following a thorough review of available resources, RCAS selected:
- Discovery Education Experience. The essential companion for engaged classrooms, Discovery Education Experience is a supplemental cross-curricular digital resource that inspires teachers, motivates students, and supports instruction in science, social studies, and all other academic disciplines. Designed expressly for K-12 schools, Experience delivers all-in-one, ready-to-teach lessons and strategies, exciting career exploration resources, standards-aligned content, and flexible tools for differentiation and assessment. Recently, Discovery Education announced a host of new enhancements to Discovery Education Experience that include new tools and resources, AI technology, additional career explorations, and more. RCAS will use Discovery Education Experience to support both science and social studies instruction.
- Discovery Education Science Techbooks. The Discovery Education Science Techbook series is a complete, research-backed science solution for grades K-12. Used in classrooms across the United States, the Science Techbook series drive engagement with exclusive phenomena and interactive content. The Science Techbooks that will be used in RCAS classrooms are aligned to South Dakota state standards, and feature virtual and hands-on investigations, STEM activities, and instructional supports that enhance the delivery of impactful, blended instruction. The Science Techbooks also include standards connections and differentiation activities that inform instructional planning and guide three-dimensional learning. Available with the Science Techbooks are coordinated teacher guides offering unit, concept, and lesson overviews, accompanying print resources, and pre-packaged kits that make classroom activities easy to implement.
Discovery Education’s Science Techbook is certified as meeting the rigorous, evidence-based ESSA Tier III standards as set forth in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Multiple studies show that regular use of Discovery Education Science Techbook in the classroom has many positive academic results for educators and students across a variety of districts and populations in the United States. This research and more can be found here.
- Social Studies Techbook. Featuring standards-aligned, core-curricular resources that use an inquiry-based approach to enhance literacy and critical thinking skills, Discovery Education’s Social Studies Techbook aids teachers and students as they approach inquiry through the 5Es Framework: Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend, and Evaluate. From stories of ancient cultures to in-depth explorations of civics and government, this comprehensive digital textbook takes concepts off the pages and brings lessons to life. The Social Studies Techbook is available for several courses including World History, U.S. History, Civics and Government, and World Geography and Cultures, which is the course adopted by RCAS.
The new Discovery Education digital resources selected for use by RCAS staff will be used alongside the company’s Mystery Science, DreamBox Reading Plus, and DreamBox Math resources, all of which are already in use in district classrooms.
“RCAS seeks to create a rigorous, collaborative, and inclusive learning environment for all students, so each individual is empowered to pursue a lifetime of personal success,” said Nicole Keegan, Rapid City Area Schools’ Staff Development Manager. “The addition of these powerful new resources to our science and social studies curricula supports that effort. These high-quality, easy-to-use resources are aligned to South Dakota’s educational standards and fit easily into our existing educational technology plan. We look forward to integrating these new instructional materials into our classroom activities.”
RCAS educators using Discovery Education solutions will receive dedicated professional development from Discovery Education’s team of professional learning experts. These learning opportunities for teachers help schools recognize the full return on their edtech investment. Through Discovery Education’s interactive professional development sessions, participants will learn best practices for integrating their new digital resources into instruction. Effective professional learning increases student engagement and supports the continued academic development of all students.
In addition, all educators using Discovery Education’s digital resources have access to the Discovery Educator Network. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Educator 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 deepen its partnership with the Rapid City Area Schools,” said Ray Malouf, Discovery Education Account Executive. “We look forward to continuing to support the school system’s talented team as they create innovative and engaging lessons in science, social studies, and all other disciplines.”
For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
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About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art, PreK-12, digital solutions support learning wherever it takes place. Through award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and strategic alliances, Discovery Education helps educators deliver powerful learning experiences that engage all students and support 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. Through partnerships with districts, states, and trusted organizations, Discovery Education empowers teachers with essential edtech solutions that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and accelerate learning. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.
Contact
Stephen Wakefield
Discovery Education
Phone: 202-316-6615
Email: swakefield@discoveryed.com
