Technology

Mississippi Department of Education Approves Savvas Learning Company’s Full Line of Math and Social Studies Programs for K-12 Classrooms

Published

1 year ago

January 27, 2025

Unique Mississippi myWorld Interactive course engages students to explore the state’s rich history and culture

PARAMUS, N.J., Jan. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Savvas Learning Company, a next-generation K-12 learning solutions leader, is excited to announce that its mathematics and social studies learning solutions for grades K-12 have been approved by the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) for inclusion on its list of state-adopted high-quality instructional materials (HQIM).

Savvas is proud to provide Mississippi educators with high-quality instructional materials for math and social studies.

The MDE determined that Savvas Mississippi math and social studies programs are fully aligned to Mississippi College– and Career-Readiness Standards and designed to be “robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that students need for success in college and careers and to compete in the global economy.” In the state’s HQIM review rubrics, all Savvas math and social studies learning solutions received high scores — at each grade level — on all three gateways (or criteria), which include Alignment to Standards; Rigor and Instructional Practices; and Usability. Mississippi school districts can purchase state-adopted Savvas instructional materials beginning on April 1, 2025.

What sets Savvas apart is that it’s the only learning solutions provider that offers a customized and state-approved core social studies curriculum for grade 4, when the state teaches Mississippi history. The Mississippi myWorld Interactive Grade 4 course is unique in that it covers the state’s geography, history, and government. Aligned explicitly to Mississippi state standards, the grade 4 program provides educators with Mississippi-specific content that engages students to explore and celebrate the state’s rich history and culture.

Accessible on the award-winning Savvas Realize learning management system, Savvas math and social studies programs offer the flexibility of digital, print, and blended instruction to provide teachers with the tools they need to easily personalize learning for all students.

Savvas Mississippi Math Learning Solutions
The Savvas K-12 math programs customized for Mississippi include enVision Mathematics Mississippi for Grades K-8 and enVision A|G|A (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2) Mississippi for high school. Providing evidence-based, standards-aligned content combined with personalized adaptive learning, the curriculum supports all students in developing deep conceptual math understanding, procedural skills, and fluency, with relevant application opportunities to become college and career ready. The enVision series offers continuity from year-to-year with vertical alignment from kindergarten through grade 12.

The award-winning enVision K-12 math series has met the ESSA Level 2 Evidence Standard by demonstrating a positive effect on student performance. With a proven instructional design featuring problem-based learning, performance tasks, and visual instruction, the programs give students multiple ways to learn and teachers an array of robust resources to personalize learning. Its features include:

Expanded digital resources and high-interest, student-centered activities that engage learners in real-world, meaningful math.A variety of instructional support tools that save teachers time while providing them flexibility for lesson planning.Family engagement resources that support student learning at home.Brainingcamp digital manipulatives embedded within the K-8 program that give students access to interactive modeling tools to improve conceptual understanding.

Savvas Mississippi Social Studies Learning Solutions
Savvas social studies programs for Mississippi are grounded in a deep understanding of civic ideals and practices, active citizenship, and global conversation while supporting the Mississippi state standards. The inquiry-based curriculum offers a wealth of interactive resources that promote a hands-on approach to learning, encourage student collaboration, and build community within the classroom.

History and social studies are brought to life through diverse primary sources, digital activities, and immersive learning experiences. With flexible, ready-to-implement resources and active classroom strategies, teachers can build a dynamic learning environment that fosters teamwork, critical thinking, and civic responsibility. The Savvas K-12 social studies programs customized for Mississippi include:

Mississippi myWorld Interactive Grades K-8, including Grade 4 Mississippi StudiesUS History Interactive for Mississippi High SchoolWorld History Interactive for Mississippi High SchoolEconomics for MississippiMagruder’s American Government Interactive

For Mississippi myWorld Interactive Grades K-5, Savvas supports reading comprehension by linking social studies content with essential literacy skills, allowing students to grow as independent readers and informed citizens. Accessible in both print and digital formats, these Science of Reading-based literacy resources ensure every student can meaningfully connect with the content.

“At Savvas, we believe that education is most impactful when it resonates deeply with students’ own experiences and inspires them to learn, grow, and succeed,” said Bethlam Forsa, CEO of Savvas Learning Company. “Savvas is proud to provide Mississippi educators with the high-quality instructional materials they need to increase student achievement in the classroom while preparing students for success in college, career, and civic life.”

ABOUT SAVVAS LEARNING COMPANY
At Savvas, we believe learning should inspire. By combining new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new ways of interacting, we design engaging, next-generation K-12 learning solutions that give all students the best opportunity to succeed. Our award-winning, high-quality instructional materials span every grade level and discipline, from evidence-based, standards-aligned core curricula and supplemental and intervention programs to state-of-the-art assessment tools and the industry’s most innovative portfolio of college and career readiness solutions — all designed to meet the needs of every learner. Savvas products are used by millions of students and educators in more than 90 percent of the 13,000+ public school districts across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as globally in more than 125 countries. To learn more, visit Savvas Learning Company. Savvas Learning Company’s products are also available for sale in Canada through its subsidiary, Rubicon.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mississippi-department-of-education-approves-savvas-learning-companys-full-line-of-math-and-social-studies-programs-for-k-12-classrooms-302360919.html

SOURCE Savvas Learning Company

Technology

FranklinWH Joins Efficiency Maine to Help Homeowners to Earn up to $600 Annually From Home Batteries

Published

40 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

Efficiency Maine Small Battery Program taps residential storage to support grid during peak demand

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — FranklinWH, a leading provider of whole-home energy management and storage systems, announced today it is participating in the Efficiency Maine Small Battery Program, allowing Maine homeowners to earn up to $600 per battery each year by supplying stored energy to the grid during peak demand periods.

The program reflects a growing use of residential energy storage systems as both backup power sources and grid resources that can generate income while helping stabilize electricity supply.

Homeowners who enroll can allow their systems to discharge energy during peak demand events, typically on weekday evenings, in exchange for annual payments.

“I work from home, so losing power really isn’t an option,” said Brian Duggan, a Maine homeowner who has used the system for four months. “There have been several community-wide outages since we installed our system, and we didn’t even notice. Our power stayed on.” Duggan said the system is a maintenance-free alternative to a generator, pairs with electric vehicle charging, and helps protect his home during winter travel.

“This is where the economics of home energy storage are heading,” said Gary Lam, CEO of FranklinWH. “Homeowners are no longer only consumers of electricity; they’re becoming active participants in the energy system. Programs such as this allow them to receive payments while strengthening the grid in their communities.”

Maine’s virtual power plant (VPP) program is administered by Efficiency Maine, which compensates homeowners for the energy their systems send back to the grid during peak events, creating a new revenue stream tied to system participation.

Efficiency Maine may call up to 60 events per year, typically lasting three hours during peak demand windows. Homeowners receive advance notice through the FranklinWH App and can opt out of individual events or unenroll at any time. During events, a reserve level is maintained to ensure power remains available for household needs.

As utilities and policymakers look for new ways to manage rising demand and grid volatility, VPP programs are expected to expand, positioning distributed home energy systems as a critical part of the solution.

About FranklinWH

FranklinWH Energy Storage is the manufacturer of the FranklinWH System, a next-generation home energy management and storage solution. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, FranklinWH’s team brings decades of experience across energy system design, manufacturing, sales, and installation. The company is AVL-listed with multiple financial institutions and continues to empower homeowners to achieve true energy freedom. Learn more at franklinwh.com.

Media Contact:
Media@franklinwh.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/franklinwh-joins-efficiency-maine-to-help-homeowners-to-earn-up-to-600-annually-from-home-batteries-302752085.html

SOURCE FranklinWH Energy Storage Inc.

Technology

Marelli highlights vehicle dynamics technologies as a competitive advantage, elevating safety, comfort and performance, at Auto China 2026

Published

40 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

The company will introduce new advanced suspension solutions such as the new Active Camber and the Electromechanical Lifter, enabling real-time control of wheel angle and vehicle heightAlso in the spotlight, the Hybrid Electromechanical Suspensions, a new architecture combining full-active actuator technology and best-in-class semi-active dampers to deliver a high-end driving experience while maintaining cost efficiency.

SAITAMA, Japan, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At Auto China 2026 in Beijing (April 24-May 3), Marelli, a global technology partner to the automotive industry, will highlight how vehicle dynamics and advanced suspension technologies are becoming increasingly central to vehicle safety, performance, user experience, comfort and brand differentiation, also supporting the evolution toward Software-Defined Vehicles.
In this perspective, at booth n. W2B08 in Hall W2 in the New China International Exhibition Center (NCIEC), as a relevant part of its wider portfolio of solutions for different vehicle domains, the company will showcase its latest suspension and chassis innovations, suchas the new Active Camber, the Electromechanical Lifter and the Hybrid Electromechanical suspensions.

Enabled by software control and advanced electromechanical actuators, active suspension systems play a key role in determining vehicles behavior under different driving conditions, with a direct impact on overall user experience, vehicle agility and safety.

“The importance of vehicle dynamics technology spans all propulsion systems, giving automakers a decisive tool to drive vehicle distinctiveness while offering end users a wide range of personalization options.” stated Piero Monchiero, Advanced Innovation VP of Marelli’s Ride Dynamics business. “This is particularly evident in China, where customer expectations for vehicle dynamics and ride comfort continue to rise.”

Active Camber: optimal tire contact with the road to increase drivability and safety
The first relevant innovation is the Active Camber system, designed to enhance vehicle stability by correcting wheel camber in real time, improving vehicle performance and safety while delivering a more comfortable experience.

Camber is the inward or outward tilt of a wheel when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Proper camber ensures optimal tire contact with the road, improving grip for better stability, braking and acceleration, while also supporting more uniform tire wear.

The new solution presented in Beijing features an electronically controlled smart actuator with integrated sensors that continuously monitor the road surface. An intelligent control unit processes data every millisecond and automatically adjusts wheel angles in real time, adapting to driving conditions. This reduces body movement and increases grip, resulting in more precise handling and safer cornering. The solution provides a smoother experience in different conditions and contributes to extend tire life through a more even wear.

Electromechanical Lifter, smartly adapting vehicle height
Another innovation within Marelli’s suspension showcase in Beijing will be the Electromechanical Lifter, a fully electromechanical device integrated into the shock absorber that adjusts vehicle height in some specific situations. The system uses a smart actuator to deliver automatic leveling functionality, maintaining vehicle balance across varying conditions. The solution is suitable in particular for vehicle segments like sport and performance cars and sporty SUVs, addressing different use cases. Regarding sport and performance cars, it can lift the vehicle to manage garage ramps, speed bumps or snowy roads. On sporty SUVs, this technology can adjust the vehicle setup within a certain level of speed, in order to improve aerodynamics by minimizing drag. The system also facilitates easier vehicle entry and exit. The solution is oil-free, lightweight and ensures easy integration for carmakers.

New active electromechanical suspension solutions to elevate onboard experience
Designed to drive affordable innovation, the new Hybrid Electromechanical Suspension is a new suspension architecture that combines full-active actuator technology and best-in-class semi-active dampers to deliver a high-end driving experience while maintaining cost efficiency. Controlled by an Electronic Control Unit, the system integrates full-active electromechanical actuators applied to the front suspension, which provide optimal damping or self-generate reactive forces to minimize roll, pitch, yaw and vibration. These are paired with semi-active rear shock absorbers and optimize vertical dynamic response. The result is smoother driving, improved stability and enhanced safety in a variety of conditions.

This system draws from the experience of the Fully Active Electromechanical Suspension, which will also be on display at Marelli’s booth in Beijing. This oil-free solution uses four electronically controlled actuators which modulate each wheel’s suspension and damping parameters in real time, actively defining the best behavior of each vehicle’s suspension, for optimal handling and ride comfort balance. Data is processed in milliseconds to determine, through a smart algorithm, the actions required to adapt to road irregularities and driving situations, providing a “magic carpet” experience for vehicle occupants.

By enhancing stability and comfort, these two active electromechanical suspension solutions help reduce motion sickness, especially during activities like reading or using a laptop, which are expected to become more common with the rise of autonomous driving. They are also designed to recover kinetic energy, ensuring up to 80% energy efficiency compared to passive or semi-active systems.

Marelli’s booth at the Beijing Auto Show will be themed “Rooted in innovation, everywhere”, which illustrates the company’s ‘distributed’ model for high-speed innovation, to support customers wherever they need, with localized design, development, sourcing and manufacturing in China and across different regions. This approach combines local expertise and global reach to deliver affordable, scalable solutions at speed, that accelerate customers’ time-to-market. The company showcase will feature innovative solutions in several technology domains, including automotive lighting, electronics, interiors, propulsion, thermal systems, alongside a comprehensive portfolio of advanced suspension innovations.

About Marelli
Marelli is a global mobility technology supplier to the automotive sector. With a strong and established track record in innovation and manufacturing excellence, our mission is to transform the future of mobility through working with customers and partners to create a safer, greener, and better-connected world. With around 40,000 employees worldwide, the Marelli footprint includes over 150 sites globally.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2964531/Marelli_Photo_1.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2964532/Marelli_Photo_2.jpg

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marelli-highlights-vehicle-dynamics-technologies-as-a-competitive-advantage-elevating-safety-comfort-and-performance-at-auto-china-2026-302752087.html

SOURCE Marelli

Technology

Oklahoma City Turns to ASAP Service to Speed Emergency Response

Published

40 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

Oklahoma City Police Department 911 Communications announced that it has gone live with ASAP Service, a standards-based solution developed by The Monitoring Association (TMA).

OKLAHOMA CITY, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Oklahoma City Police Department 911 Communications announced that it has gone live with ASAP Service, a standards-based solution developed by The Monitoring Association (TMA). ASAP Service automatically and digitally delivers prioritized alarm notifications to the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems used by emergency communications centers (ECCs) across the country. The expected results of this initiative are faster, better-informed emergency response, fewer communication errors, improved data accuracy, and reduced stress for citizens and 911 telecommunicators.

“Once ASAP Service is integrated with our CAD system, we no longer will need to dedicate a telecommunicator to monitoring the web portal,” said Katherine Underwood, the agency’s management specialist.

The first phase of the initiative deployed the solution through ASAP View, a web-based portal that reduced the city’s implementation timeline by roughly 50 percent. “Once we had the opportunity to review our call volume and processes, the value of having all the information upfront was clear,” said Katherine Underwood, the agency’s management specialist. “We moved forward with View because it was easy to implement and use, and we believe it will reduce call handling times and overall call volume. Ultimately, the benefits outweighed the manual effort, since we would have had to build those calls either way.”

However, to realize the full potential of ASAP Service — for example, address pre-verification — the city plans to integrate ASAP with its CAD system as part of phase two. CentralSquare, the agency’s CAD-system vendor, is developing an application programming interface (API) for this purpose. The API will connect to the GovCloud-hosted version of ASAP, delivering scalability, reliability, and superior data security, as well as compliance with the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) security standards for handling criminal-justice information.

“Once ASAP Service is integrated with our CAD system, we no longer will need to dedicate a telecommunicator to monitoring the web portal,” Underwood said.

The agency’s ECC serves about 702,000 residents and provides 911 call-taking and dispatch services for law-enforcement, fire/rescue and emergency-medical incidents. In 2025, the center received 1.48 million calls for service, plus nearly 40,000 residential and business alarm notifications, the vast majority of which pertained to law-enforcement incidents.

Regarding alarm notifications, multiple voice calls typically are needed between 911 telecommunicators and alarm-monitoring-center personnel to verify the information needed to effectively dispatch emergency response. It is a time-consuming process — industry estimates indicate that it adds from two to eight minutes to response times, an eternity when lives and property are at risk. Because telecommunicators need to type the captured information into their CAD systems, the process also is prone to miscommunications, misinterpretations, and transcription errors.

ASAP Service is architected to resolve these issues. It was developed by TMA in collaboration with the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO). The solution is built on two TMA-developed standards, the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) and the Alarm Verification Scoring Standard (AVS-01). Both are accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Of all the benefits that ASAP Service will provide, the one that resonates most with Underwood is the anticipated dramatic decrease in call volume for the center’s telecommunicators. Fewer calls mean telecommunicators will be free to focus on higher-priority incidents that require their unique skills and experience. They’ll also have more time to decompress between calls. “They’ll have time to breathe, which will reduce their stress,” Underwood said.

Further, Underwood predicted that citizens requiring emergency assistance will encounter fewer instances of being placed in queue and will experience shorter hold times when they are. “Our residents no longer will be competing with alarm companies to talk with one of us,” she said. “There’s nothing more frustrating than dialing 911 and getting the ‘all lines are busy, please hold and don’t hang up’ message when your house is burning down.”

As of go-live, the following alarm-monitoring companies are transmitting alarm notifications via ASAP Service to Oklahoma City Police Departments 911 Communications: Quick Response, CPI, Alert 360, Affiliated Monitoring, JCI, United Central Control, Allstate Security, Security Central, Rapid Response Monitoring, Everon/Protection One, Vector Security, Vivint, Guardian Protection, and Becklar.

Learn more about how TMA’s ASAP Service is saving lives every day nationwide at asap911.org.

About The Monitoring Association

The Monitoring Association (TMA), formerly the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA), is an internationally recognized nonprofit trade association that represents professional monitoring companies, security systems integrators, and providers of products and services to the industry. Incorporated in 1950, TMA represents its members before Congress and regulatory agencies on the local, state and federal levels, and other authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) over the industry. Learn more online at https://tma.us/about-tma/.

About TMA’s ASAP Service

Launched in 2011 as a public-private partnership, TMA’s Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) Service enables direct electronic dispatch of emergency calls for service from alarm companies to emergency communications centers. Increasing the accuracy and efficiency of dispatches, ASAP Service utilizes American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited protocols developed cooperatively by TMA and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO).

Media Contact

Julie Howerter, ASAP Service, 1 815-501-5832, rscarpino@pipitone.com, https://asap911.org/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/oklahoma-city-turns-to-asap-service-to-speed-emergency-response-302751348.html

SOURCE ASAP Service