Blackboard to Provide e-Learning Options to Dependents of U.S. Military Families Worldwide

Washington, D.C. – December 9, 2003 – Blackboard Inc., a leading enterprise software company for e-Education, announced that they have been awarded a $400,000 three-year contract by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) to provide the Blackboard Learning System™ and the Blackboard Portal System™ to K-12 learning institutions on U.S. military installations worldwide.

Under the terms of the contract, Blackboard’s e-Learning offering will allow the U.S. government to provide enhanced educational opportunities for the children of thousands of service men and women stationed overseas and domestically. Initial rollout is scheduled for 500 and is expected to grow to 75,000 students over time. The plan calls for the Blackboard Learning System and the Blackboard Portal System to be deployed at all K-12 learning institutions on U.S. military installations worldwide.

The Department of Defense Education Activity will use the Blackboard Learning System and Portal System and ASP hosting services to meet government mandates regarding education of military children overseas. The Blackboard platform will allow DoDEA to integrate online content with traditional classroom-based teaching and learning and is designed to maximize the quality and availability of support for their highly mobile students.

Through the Blackboard Learning System, DoDEA classrooms around the world can share content, create discussion boards and engage in real-time virtual instruction, bringing together educators and children of the military community, regardless of location.

“It is a privilege to be part of the solution for providing quality education to our military families,” said Michael Chasen, CEO of Blackboard. “Our unique combination of expertise in e-Education, solutions for the K-12 market, and proven deployment in more than 60 countries are of great benefit to the Department of Defense and will enable us to launch this important initiative quickly and effectively.”

Blackboard solutions are designed to support growth and flexibility and to meet DoDEA’s requirements for customization and growth—without replacing core technology. This open architecture enables DoDEA to build upon the initial platform as demands change and e-Learning becomes more integrated with education programs for military dependents.

About Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard Inc. was founded with a vision to transform the Internet into a powerful environment for the education experience. Blackboard is a leading provider of e-Education solutions serving the global needs of primary and secondary schools, higher education, corporations and government agencies. Blackboard is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices and staff across North America, South America, Europe and Asia.

About Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) operates 222 public schools in 20 districts located in 13 foreign countries, seven states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. All schools within DoDEA are fully accredited by U.S. accreditation agencies. Approximately 8,800 teachers serve DoDEA’s 102,000 students.