Lightspan’s Suite of Products Selected by Illinois School District for Assessment, Professional Development and Student Achievement
Carol Sossong, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction,
said: “After careful consideration, we chose to build upon our existing relationship with Lightspan. Our district has used The Lightspan Network since 1999 in 20 of our schools and it’s been a wonderful tool for teachers, parents and students. Adding Lightspan eduTest Assessment to all of our district’s schools will provide our teachers with vital, real-time data on student achievement. This is especially important with the new emphasis on accountability in the No Child Left Behind Act.”
The Joliet Public Schools District 86 will add the following Lightspan
products:
— The Lightspan Network has been renewed for three years and will be
implemented in all 21 of the district’s schools. The Lightspan
Network is a suite of tools and resources that helps simplify
instructional planning and supports ongoing professional growth. This
includes management and communication tools that bring teachers
together, and a variety of curriculum and learning activities that
promote student achievement. All of these features are designed to
help streamline the process of aligning and organizing curriculum to
state standards and assessment.
— Lightspan eduTest Assessment will be implemented in all 21 of the
district’s schools over the next three years. Lightspan eduTest
Assessment is a comprehensive online accountability and assessment
program that lets educators quickly identify district, school, class,
and student strengths and needs relating to state and national
standards.
— Lightspan Achieve Now will be implemented in two of the district’s
schools and will include a home deployment component to extend
learning to the home and help increase family involvement in students’
learning. Lightspan Achieve Now is a standards-based curriculum
program used by students in kindergarten through eighth grade that is
proven to increase student achievement in reading, language arts, and
mathematics.
Lightspan Chairman and CEO John T. Kernan stated: “We are very pleased that Joliet Public Schools District 86 has chosen to expand their relationship with Lightspan. We share the district’s commitment to help increase academic achievement for all of its students by providing high-quality, research-based educational resources and a strong commitment to professional development.”
About Lightspan
Lightspan(R), Inc. (Nasdaq: LSPN) develops 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 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).
“Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward looking statements, including statements related the Company’s agreement with the Joliet 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 Joliet 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.
Robert S. Scheid
Lightspan, Inc.
+1-866-251-6694/
Web site: http://www.lightspan.com