Helping CA BOCES Support Diverse Classrooms with Flexible Digital Resources
For regional BOCES throughout New York State, supporting multiple districts means balancing a wide range of instructional needs, grade levels, and learning styles. Educators need resources that are easy to implement, flexible enough to work across classrooms, and engaging enough to help students connect with complex topics in meaningful ways.
NAME
Clay Nolan &
Alexandra Freer
REGION
CA BOCES
LOCATION
Olean, NY
GRADES
Grades K-6
SUBJECT
Social Studies, Science
At Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES (CA BOCES), Kids Discover Online has become a valuable resource for helping districts strengthen nonfiction learning, inquiry, and cross-curricular instruction for both Science and Social Studies lesson planning.
As district leaders explored digital resources for their component schools, they were looking for more than just an online textbook replacement. They wanted a platform that could support student curiosity, strengthen literacy skills, and provide educators with accessible, standards-aligned content that could fit naturally into existing instruction.
We direct our teachers to Kids Discover Online first for all of their Science and Social Studies resources.Clay Nolan, Program Manager for Learning Resources
Bringing Nonfiction Learning to Life
For CA BOCES Program Manager for Learning Resources, Clay Nolan, one of the strongest aspects of Kids Discover Online is the way it helps students interact with nonfiction content in approachable and engaging ways.
Rather than overwhelming students with long passages of text, Kids Discover combines short reads, visuals, maps, interactive features, and multimedia support to help learners build understanding step by step. This structure makes it easier for students to stay engaged while exploring complex topics across Science and Social Studies.
The Search by Standards makes it easy for CA BOCES educators to quickly locate Science and Social Studies resources aligned to instructional goals, helping teachers spend less time searching and more time teaching.
CA BOCES leaders also appreciated how easily the platform supports inquiry-based learning. Students are encouraged to ask questions, make connections, and continue exploring topics independently, creating a learning experience that feels active rather than passive.
Features like standards alignment tools, embedded lesson supports, and ready-to-use resources also help teachers quickly connect content to instructional goals without adding extra planning burdens.
Supporting Accessibility Across Many Districts
Because CA BOCES supports 22 school districts and a student population of over 15,000, accessibility and flexibility were major priorities during implementation.
Alexandra Freer, the Digital Resources and Technology Coordinator for CA BOCES, highlighted Kids Discover Online’s multiple Lexile levels, accessibility tools, and language support as especially valuable for helping students engage with the same core content at different reading abilities.
NOAH Text® improves readability by highlighting syllables and sound patterns, helping students build confidence and engage more independently with nonfiction content.
Interactive visuals, vocabulary supports, NOAH Text®, and built-in reading tools help students navigate information more independently while supporting comprehension and confidence.
The platform’s clean, intuitive design was another standout feature. The CA BOCES teams noted that both students and educators were able to navigate the resource easily, making implementation smoother across schools with varying levels of technology experience.
Our districts have had a focus on accessibility and Kids Discover’s menu of resources fits right into what students need.Alexandra Freer, Digital Resources and Technology Coordinator
A Resource Designed to Grow with District Needs
As instructional priorities continue evolving, CA BOCES leaders see Kids Discover Online as a flexible resource capable of growing alongside district goals.
The continued addition of new resources, such as two Units on New York State History, has helped districts support emerging instructional areas, including financial literacy, climate science, and cross-curricular literacy integration.
Leaders also emphasized the importance of responsive customer support and ongoing collaboration throughout implementation. Flexible training opportunities and open communication helped districts feel supported while introducing the platform to teachers and schools.
For CA BOCES, Kids Discover Online provides more than digital content. It offers districts a flexible instructional partner that supports inquiry, accessibility, literacy, and student engagement across a wide range of classrooms and learning environments.
