FOSS from School Specialty Adopted by the California State Board of Education for the 2018 Science Instructional Materials Adoption


GREENVILLE, Wis., Dec. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- School Specialty, Inc. (OTCQB: SCOO) (“School Specialty”, “SSI” or “the Company”), home of the 21st Century Safe School™ and leading provider of products and innovative solutions that support integrated learning environments for improved student social, emotional, mental and physical well-being, is pleased to announce that the Full Option Science System™ (FOSS®) has been adopted by the California State Board of Education (SBE) for the 2018 Science Instructional Materials Adoption.

As part of School Specialty’s Delta Education offering for science curriculum and resources, FOSS is the leading active-learning science program in the United States. The California SBE selected FOSS Next Generation™ for adoption by school districts at the K-5 and 6-8 grade levels.

“We are proud to be recognized by the California State Board of Education as a program proven to support statewide requirements and initiatives for science education,” said Bodie Marx, senior vice president of sales and product development for School Specialty Curriculum. “FOSS was designed with the objective that students learn science most effectively through active exploration and discovery, and in a progressive manner that maximizes every individual’s opportunity to learn. We are excited for educators across the state to have this dynamic, engaging, and proven curriculum in their hands that greatly advances their students’ experience with science concepts.”

Developed at the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley, FOSS Next Generation™ is a K-8 research-based active learning curriculum that engages students through firsthand experiences with scientific phenomena. Every FOSS investigation provides multiple exposures to science concepts including dynamic inquiry-based investigations, rigorous science-based reading, integrated technology resources to extend learning, opportunities to apply science to solve engineering challenges, and assessment tools to help teachers monitor student progress in developing understanding.

“FOSS has a 25-year history with the state of California and we are thrilled for the continued opportunity to serve as a vital component of the state’s science curriculum adoption,” stated Linda De Lucchi, FOSS Director. “This award-winning program is truly dedicated to enhancing the learning and teaching of science through innovative materials and methods that bring greater depth and creativity to the student’s experience.”

At least 1 in 5 students nationwide uses curriculum materials from the Lawrence Hall of Science in their school careers – a testament to FOSS’ history. Each edition of FOSS shares the same research-based strategies that developers at the Hall have been refining for more than two decades. Whether it’s to generally embrace the vision of A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas (2012) or follow more closely to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) with the integration of the Common Core State Standards in ELA and Math, there's a FOSS edition that will support the goals for science instruction today and beyond.

Mr. Marx continued, “Our School Specialty and FOSS family looks forward to working even more closely with California educators to promote best practices and the most positive outcomes in teaching and learning. More than anything else at this challenging time, we extend our heartfelt thoughts to school districts statewide in the aftermath of the recent fires.”

For more information about FOSS, visit www.deltaeducation.com/ or connect on Facebook and Twitter.

About School Specialty, Inc.
School Specialty designs, develops and delivers a broad assortment of innovative and proprietary products, programs and services to the education marketplace, including essential classroom supplies, furniture, educational technology, supplemental learning resources, science-based curriculum, and evidence-based safety and security training. The Company applies its unmatched team of subject-matter experts and customized planning, development and project management tools to deliver this comprehensive offering as the 21st Century Safe School™, a concept built around best-practice school environments that support the social, emotional, mental, and physical safety of students – improving both their learning outcomes and school district performance.

For more information, visit https://corporate.schoolspecialty.com/ or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Find ideas, resources and inspiration by visiting our blog: https://blog.schoolspecialty.com/.

School Specialty Contacts:

Elizabeth Lamport
Senior Marketing Campaign Manager
Tel: 603-579-3565
Email: Elizabeth.Lamport@schoolspecialty.com

Media Contact
Dionne Manchester       
GW Communications
Tel: 212-786-6068
Email: Dionne@GWCco.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ed4dcd11-d9ac-4062-87db-f46a0112a170

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