Lightspan, Inc. to Include Scholastic Books as Part of New Print and Technology Reading Program for U.S. Schools
The new Lightspan Achieve Now Literacy Library combines the proven technology of Lightspan Achieve Now with appropriate leveled books from Scholastic and learning activities that align to state standards.
Lightspan Chairman and CEO John T. Kernan stated: “Scholastic is one of the most trusted names in education and we are proud to include their books in our new reading program. The Lightspan Achieve Now Literacy Library highlights our Company’s commitment to improve reading achievement among the nation’s school children, which has taken on even more importance with the new No Child Left Behind federal education act. Our new program will also help Lightspan access additional federal and state education funding sources.”
Lightspan has aligned a classroom set of leveled books from Scholastic with lessons that address the content strands covered in the award-winning Lightspan Adventures CDs. The Lightspan Achieve Now Literacy Library includes teacher support materials and a large collection of Scholastic books that can be used for guided reading, independent reading, or home reading. These materials provide detailed lessons and explicit instructional strategies to help teachers bridge their standards to the skills and concepts covered in the Lightspan Achieve Now program.
The Lightspan Achieve Now Literacy Library will be formally unveiled later this month at the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) conference, the largest annual gathering of the nation’s school administrators.
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 ).
About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NMS: SCHL) is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children’s books, textbooks, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, school-based and direct-to- home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries, and television networks; and the Company’s Internet Site, www.scholastic.com .
“Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward looking statements, including statements related to the timing and content of the Lightspan Achieve Now Literacy Library and government funding, that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the possibility that the Lightspan Achieve Now Literacy Library may not be implemented as anticipated or may not include content indicated in this release, the possibility that additional funding expected to be available may not be available as expected, 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.
02/07/2003
/CONTACT: Robert S. Scheid, toll free, +1-866-251-6694, or Michael A. Sicuro, +1-858-824-8370, both of Lightspan, Inc./
/Web site: http://www.lightspan.com
http://www.scholastic.com /
(LSPN SCHL)
