The New Hampshire Department of Education (NHED) has launched an expanded partnership with Discovery Education to strengthen civics instruction across the state. This initiative is designed to prepare students to be informed, engaged participants in democracy by providing high-quality, standards-aligned curriculum, digital resources, and professional learning for teachers.
In March, the Governor and Executive Council approved a $1 million contract between the New Hampshire Department of Education and Discovery Education. The agreement will fund a comprehensive set of instructional materials and supports focused on the history, heritage, and foundational principles of the New Hampshire Constitution and the state government it established. The goal is to ensure students develop a deep, practical understanding of how their state government functions and how citizens can participate responsibly in civic life.
This effort builds on an existing relationship: in 2021 the Department made Discovery Education content available at no cost to all New Hampshire educators by adopting the Discovery Education Experience learning platform. That initial rollout allowed 100% of New Hampshire schools to access the platform and resulted in more than 1.4 million learning experiences across the state. The new civics curriculum will be presented in a dedicated New Hampshire Civics Channel on the Discovery Education platform and is scheduled to be available to teachers this fall.
To support classroom implementation and maximize the state’s investment in educational technology, the contract also funds comprehensive teacher training. Professional development will focus on practical strategies for integrating the civics resources into daily instruction, using primary sources effectively, and facilitating critical discussions that expose students to multiple perspectives while building civic skills such as deliberation, respectful debate, and evidence-based reasoning.
“Civics education is essential for all New Hampshire students,” said Frank Edelblut, Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Education. “We want the next generation of adults to know how government began in our state, understand the framework of the New Hampshire Constitution, and to be able to make their voices heard while also appreciating alternative perspectives. Our partnership with Discovery Education helps teachers find engaging, innovative ways to bring civics to life in classrooms across New Hampshire.”
Discovery Education will develop a digital textbook and a suite of supporting materials tailored to the optional civics curriculum. Designed for students in grades K–12, the materials will include ready-to-use lesson plans and activities that teachers can easily integrate into existing programs. Custom New Hampshire-centric digital assets will highlight state-specific artifacts and documents. Teachers and students will have access to primary source materials that illustrate the development and operation of state government and clarify the intent and impact of the New Hampshire Constitution.
In addition to text-based resources, the curriculum will incorporate multimedia elements such as short videos, interactive activities, and other digital supports that present essential civics questions in ways that engage diverse learners. These components are intended to support inquiry-based learning, help students practice civic reasoning, and encourage active participation in classroom simulations and community-oriented projects.
“Discovery Education is honored to be selected to support this important work and to continue aiding New Hampshire educators, students, and families,” said Coni Rechner, Senior Vice President of State and Strategic Partnerships at Discovery Education. “The Department’s approach positions New Hampshire among the leaders advancing civics instruction, and we look forward to collaborating with Commissioner Edelblut and his team to deliver resources and training that promote active, well-informed citizenship.”
By combining state-specific content, primary sources, multimedia learning objects, and structured professional learning, this partnership aims to create a sustainable model for civics education that can be used by districts statewide. The integration of these resources into the Discovery Education platform will allow teachers to customize lessons for diverse classrooms and support student growth in civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is a leading global education technology company whose digital learning platform supports instruction wherever learning happens. Through multimedia content, teacher resources, and classroom tools, Discovery Education aims to make high-quality, equitable learning experiences available to all students. The company serves millions of educators and students worldwide and partners with schools, districts, and states to deliver scalable curriculum solutions and professional learning. For New Hampshire, Discovery Education will provide a custom civics channel and supporting professional development to help educators implement the new materials effectively.