Lightspan, Inc. Signs Contract to Deliver Online Assessmentsto Florida School District

January 8, 2003

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ —

Lightspan, Inc. (Nasdaq: LSPN), announced today that it will provide online assessments to 40 Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Florida. The focus will be on providing educators with time-sensitive data on student performance to assist in targeting instruction according to where it is needed most. Lightspan is a leading provider of high-quality educational products and services used in schools and homes to help increase academic achievement.

In its continuing effort to comply with state and federal requirements under the No Child Left Behind Act, Duval County Schools is taking a systemic approach to helping teachers and students in the classroom meet the Florida Sunshine State Standards.

Duval County Public School Superintendent John C. Fryer said: “In order to meet our goal of improving academic achievement, we must have accurate, timely information on student progress throughout the school year. Lightspan eduTest Assessment will provide this information on a districtwide basis will serve as an effective resource for administrators, teachers, students and families.”

Lightspan eduTest Assessment is designed to help teachers target instruction by identifying students’ strengths and weaknesses and benchmarking student progress throughout the school year, which helps boost academic performance.

Lightspan Chairman and CEO John T. Kernan stated: “We are proud to be selected as the provider of online assessments for students in Duval County. Lightspan eduTest Assessment is playing an increasingly important role for school districts across the country, which are required to meet new federal requirements for measuring and reporting on adequate yearly progress.”

Implementation began September 3, 2002.

About Lightspan

Lightspan(R), Inc. (Nasdaq: LSPN), provides curriculum-based educational software and online products and services that increase student achievement and enhance teacher professional development. These products are used in schools and homes and align to all key federal education reform initiatives, offering school districts a complete solution to assess, align, instruct and evaluate, as a comprehensive achievement and accountability system. More than 900 independent studies prove that Lightspan products enhance student achievement, improve teacher effectiveness and help build stronger connections with families.

Lightspan offers products in the following areas: early reading (the Lightspan Early Reading Program(TM) and the Lightspan Reading Center(TM)), K-8 interactive curriculum (Lightspan Achieve Now(TM)), K-12 online teacher resources and professional development (The Lightspan Network(R)), assessment (Lightspan eduTest Assessment(TM) and Lightspan Assessment Builder(TM)), and secondary and higher education (Interactive Mathematics, Interactive English, and academic.com). For more information, visit our Web site at www.lightspan.com

“Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward looking statements, including statements related to the Company’s agreement with the Duval County School District and the parties’ performance thereunder, that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks that the relationship with the Duval County School District will not develop as anticipated, changes in economic conditions in the Company’s market areas; changes in policies by regulatory agencies and educational organizations; the volatility of the Company’s expenses and operating results; market acceptance of the Company’s curriculum based software and Internet products; management of rapid growth; risks associated with expanding the Company’s Internet business; changes in funding for public schools; technological advances and risks related thereto and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002 filed with the Commission on April 30, 2002. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements. These risks could cause the Company’s actual results for fiscal 2003 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward looking statements by, or on behalf of, the Company.


SOURCE Lightspan, Inc.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Scheid

+1-866-251-6694,

Michael A. Sicuro,

+1-858-824-8370

both of Lightspan, Inc.

Web site: http://www.lightspan.com (LSPN)