Discovery Education Announces Acquisition of ThinkLink Learning
April 3, 2006
Silver Spring, MD (April 3, 2006) - Discovery Education, the leader in digital video-based learning, today announced the acquisition of ThinkLink Learning, a pioneer in the field of formative assessment. This union brings the ThinkLink Predictive Assessment Series into the Discovery Education family of award-winning services.
"The acquisition of ThinkLink Learning demonstrates Discovery Education's continuing commitment to provide best in class resources that help teachers become more effective in the classroom and increase student achievement," said Ron Reed, Executive Vice President, School Services, Discovery Education. "We've aligned ourselves with an assessment provider who shares our vision for developing products and services that help teachers provide students what they need to succeed."
Founded in 2000 at Vanderbilt University, ThinkLink pioneered a unique approach to formative assessment that uses a scientifically research-based continuous improvement model that maps diagnostic assessments to state high-stakes tests. ThinkLink Learning's Predictive Assessment Series assesses student progress toward meeting state standards for reading/ language arts, math, science, and social studies. The tests are preconfigured and analyzed by ThinkLink experts to provide teachers the prediction of mastery, proficiency, and adequate yearly progress (AYP) that is critical to monitoring student progress toward state-mandated goals.
"Our mission is to provide the best tools and services to support educators in improving learning for all students, said Jacqueline Shrago, President and CEO of ThinkLink. "Joining forces with Discovery Education allows us to reach more educators and students and have a greater impact on teaching and learning."
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is a division of Discovery Communications, the leading global real-world and knowledge-based media company. The leader in digital video-based learning, Discovery Education produces and distributes high-quality digital video content in easy-to-use formats, in all core-curricular subject areas. Its award-winning digital learning resources are licensed to more than 70,000 schools across the United States. Discovery Education is committed to creating scientifically proven, standards-based digital resources for teachers, students, and parents. Through strategic partnerships with more than 25 public television stations across the country, its public service initiatives, products, and joint business ventures, Discovery Education helps educators around the world harness the power of broadband and media to connect their students to a world of learning. For more information, visit www.discoveryeducation.com.
About ThinkLink Learning
Established in 2000 as a for-profit company by Vanderbilt University, ThinkLink Learning has been determinedly focused on the use of formative assessment to improve K-12 student learning and performance. The underlying mission of the company is to bridge the gap from university research to classroom practice. ThinkLink Learning has translated its mission into practice by developing unique formative assessment services that predict student proficiency, mastery, and AYP performance with up to 90% accuracy, and by creating industry-leading alternate assessment services that enable all students to reach their academic potential.
