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Teaching Strategies Earns Two CODiE Awards for Innovation in Early Childhood Education

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Recognition highlights Teaching Strategies’ integrated approach to supporting educators, families, and young learners

WASHINGTON, July 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Leading early childhood education provider Teaching Strategies today announced it has received two 2026 CODiE Awards for its flagship curriculum and integrated platform of early learning solutions.

Teaching Strategies received the following honors:

Best PK/Early Childhood Learning Solution for The Creative Curriculum for PreschoolBest Suite of Connected/Integrated Solutions for SmartTeach, a first-of-its-kind platform that brings curriculum, assessment, professional learning, and family engagement together in one place.

The CODiE Awards recognize the most innovative products, platforms, and services across technology and education. Winners are selected through a rigorous evaluation process led by independent industry experts who assess each solution based on innovation, functionality, market impact, and overall value.

“Early childhood educators deserve tools that work together to make teaching more seamless—from planning instruction directly fueled by developmental assessment, to engaging families, to supporting professional growth and giving leaders actionable insights,” said Mike Derezin, CEO of Teaching Strategies. “We’re honored the CODiE Awards recognized both The Creative Curriculum and the SmartTeach platform that brings this connected experience to life.”

The Best PK/Early Childhood Learning Solution award recognizes The Creative Curriculum for Preschool®, Teaching Strategies’ evidence-based curriculum for 3- and 4-year-olds. Built around hands-on, investigative learning, the curriculum supports the whole child through intentional experiences in literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and social-emotional development while providing educators with practical instructional resources and meaningful opportunities to engage families.

The Best Suite of Connected/Integrated Solutions award recognizes Teaching Strategies’ SmartTeach™ platform and accompanying mobile app, which brings together curriculum, assessment, family engagement tools, and professional learning all into one platform. The ecosystem of solutions is developmentally appropriate for children and seamless for educators.

“The 2026 CODiE Award winners represent some of the most innovative and impactful solutions in the industry,” said Jennifer Baranowski, president of the CODiE Awards. “These organizations are solving meaningful challenges, delivering measurable outcomes, and helping shape the future of technology.”

In addition to its two award wins, Teaching Strategies was named a finalist for Best Professional Learning Solution for Professional Development Teacher Membership Plus (PDTM Plus), which provides flexible learning opportunities, certification pathways, and a professional community serving more than 100,000 early childhood educators.

The recognition also comes as new research underscores the value of an integrated approach to early childhood education. A multiyear randomized controlled trial conducted by the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University found that when teachers used Teaching Strategies’ connected ecosystem of curriculum, assessment and both on-demand and live virtual professional learning, teacher retention rates increased by 59%. In turn, children in participating classrooms demonstrated stronger growth in all developmental domains as measured through GOLD®, the country’s most widely used early childhood assessment.

A complete list of 2026 CODiE Award winners is available at https://codieawards.com/winners.

About Teaching Strategies
Teaching Strategies® is the most widely used provider of early childhood curriculum, assessment, professional development, and family engagement solutions. Teaching Strategies has the only evidence-based early childhood comprehensive system of curriculum, assessment, professional development and family engagement. Its flagship products, The Creative Curriculum® and GOLD®, reach about 4.5 million children each year in more than 80 countries. A trusted partner and advocate for the early education community for 45 years, today Teaching Strategies connects teachers, children and families to inspired teaching and learning experiences, insightful data, stronger family partnerships, and robust professional learning through SmartTeach™, the leading early learning platform. Learn more at www.teachingstrategies.com.

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SOURCE Teaching Strategies

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Texas Instruments board declares third quarter 2026 quarterly dividend

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July 16, 2026

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DALLAS, July 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The board of directors of Texas Instruments Incorporated (Nasdaq: TXN) today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.42 per share of common stock, payable August 11, 2026, to stockholders of record on July 31, 2026.   

About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments Incorporated (Nasdaq: TXN) is a global semiconductor company that designs, manufactures and sells analog and embedded processing chips for markets such as industrial, automotive, data center, personal electronics and communications equipment. At our core, we have a passion to create a better world by making electronics more affordable through semiconductors. This passion is alive today as each generation of innovation builds upon the last to make our technology more reliable, more affordable and lower power, making it possible for semiconductors to go into electronics everywhere. Learn more at TI.com.

TXN-G

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SOURCE Texas Instruments Incorporated

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Drake Expands End-to-End Professional Services with Launch of Drake Audit Defense™

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July 16, 2026

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New post-filing audit defense service extends Drake Software’s support beyond tax preparation, helping firms save time while delivering greater value to clients.

FRANKLIN, N.C., July 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Drake Software, a leader in professional tax preparation solutions, today announced the launch of Drake Audit Defense™, a new post-filing audit defense service designed to help tax professionals better support their clients after a return is filed. The new offering represents another step in Drake’s continued investment in delivering integrated products and services that support tax professionals throughout the entire client journey—from intake to post-filing.

Enrollment for Drake Audit Defense is available now for Drake Software customers for Tax Year 2026 returns. Customers can enroll by logging into their account at DrakeSoftware.com

Drake Audit Defense provides tax professionals with an easy-to-offer service that helps clients navigate eligible IRS and state tax notices, audit assistance, and qualifying tax-related identity theft assistance. By reducing the administrative burden associated with post-filing issues, firms can spend less time managing notices and audits while providing additional value and peace of mind to their clients.

“Tax professionals are looking for more than software—they’re looking for solutions that help them run more efficient practices and deliver exceptional client experiences,” said Alice Curry, Chief Customer Offer. “Drake Audit Defense is another example of how we’re expanding the Drake ecosystem with integrated services that support firms before, during, and after tax season.”

“Our goal is to make it easy for firms to manage the products and services they rely on in one connected Drake experience,” said Curry. “By integrating Drake Audit Defense alongside our growing portfolio of workflow solutions and enhancements, we’re giving customers greater visibility into their practice, fewer administrative tasks, and a simpler way to manage their business while delivering even more value to their clients.”

Drake Audit Defense is designed specifically for Drake Software customers and integrates seamlessly into existing workflows, making it simple to enroll clients during the tax preparation process while providing trusted support by credentialed tax experts when post-filing issues arise.

About Drake Software

For more than four decades, Drake Software has provided innovative tax preparation and practice management solutions that help tax professionals serve their clients with confidence. Today, Drake continues to expand its ecosystem with integrated products and services that support firms from client intake through post-filing, helping practices work more efficiently while delivering exceptional client experiences.

Media Contact:
Colleen Woods Heikka
Sr. Director, Product Marketing
Colleen.woods@Taxact.com

+1-781-588-6339

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SOURCE Drake Software, LLC

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IronSpark Studios Launches in Birmingham, AL

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July 16, 2026

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IronSpark is a new creative studio focused on animation, game development, and interactive experiences.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Storytelling has a new home in Birmingham, Alabama, with the launch of IronSpark Studios, a creative media company focused on animation, game development, and interactive experiences. Guided by its mission to build stories that engage, excite, and entertain, IronSpark Studios develops original and client-driven intellectual property and digital experiences.

Production is shifting away from traditional big studios and moving rapidly toward independent creators and agile, small studios. Founded on the belief that world-class creative belongs in Birmingham, IronSpark Studios collaborates with local creatives, businesses and organizations while working to attract animation, game development and interactive media production to the region.

“Our vision is to create experiences that inspire audiences, spark imagination and leave a lasting impact,” said Brass Bralley, co-founder and managing director. “We believe Birmingham is a place where creative talent can grow, collaborate and help shape the future of storytelling.”

The studio operates through three divisions—Animation, Games and Interactive—creating content for film, commercial projects, video games, immersive exhibits and emerging digital experiences.

IronSpark Studios is partnering with clients and intellectual property owners while developing original projects of its own, helping bring more animation, game development, and interactive media production to Birmingham.

“I’ve chosen to build many businesses in the Birmingham ecosystem, and the choice to build IronSpark here was a simple one,” said Mazi Rasulnia, co-founder and consulting partner.  “Birmingham has a vibrant community of innovators and creators, and IronSpark will be a great addition.”

Among those projects is its first original animated short film, The Purple Sky Peanut Butter Club. Based on a true story of heroism and sacrifice, the dialogue-free animated short explores the power of small traditions and their ability to provide healing through grief and transcend generations.

“The stories we create are meant to connect people,” said Wink Winkler, co-founder and head of creative. “Whether that’s through film, series, a video game or an interactive experience, at the end of the day, the story is at the heart of everything we create.” 

Contact: Brass Bralley, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Brass@ironsparkstudios.com

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SOURCE IronSpark Studios

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