NEW YORK, June 16, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Kaplan K12 Learning Services, a division of worldwide educational services leader Kaplan, Inc., and Scantron Testing and Assessment today announced a strategic partnership which will give schools enhanced instructional products with robust test management and reporting capabilities. The partnership combines Kaplan's high-quality instructional programs with Scantron's test management systems and leverages complementary product functionality and company resources.
"In evaluating other leading players in the K12 education technology space, it became clear that Scantron's applications are best of breed and highly complementary to Kaplan's capabilities both in functionality and quality," said Stuart Udell, President, Kaplan K12 Learning Services. "By combining resources, we can provide school districts with unparalleled offerings."
Kaplan K12 Learning Services provides supplemental services programs, curriculum, assessment tools, and professional development to disadvantaged school districts. Its central technology offering, the Achievement Planner, is a Web-based system that provides sophisticated data analysis, custom curriculum, formative assessment and feedback on student progress.
Scantron's educational solutions include Performance Series (TM), a computer-adaptive, web-based diagnostic tool that enables educators to efficiently establish individualized learning plans and Achievement Series (TM), a highly flexible, Web-based test delivery and management system that delivers item banks from virtually any source.
"This partnership represents the joining of two top organizations and brands," said Tim Loomer, President of Scantron's Testing and Assessment division. "Our ability to tap into cooperative resources and expertise will broaden and enhance our instructional offerings, to the benefit of educators in districts across the country."
This announcement marks the first in a series of agreements to leverage complementary resources across two leading educational providers. Early partnership initiatives will include the routine use of Scantron's Performance Series as a pre and post student assessment tool for efficacy studies of Kaplan program implementations, and the inclusion of Kaplan's test items within Scantron's Achievement Series. In addition, the two organizations are already collaborating on responses to RFPs related to web-based assessments and instructional solutions.
About Kaplan K12 Learning Services:
Kaplan K12 Learning Services (www.KaplanK12.com), part of Kaplan, Inc.'s Test Prep and Admissions division, partners with schools to provide educational programs that help students meet standards, improve their critical thinking skills and boost performance on state assessments in grades K-12. The company works closely with some of the largest school districts in the country to provide programs from in-house professional development seminars to online tools for students and teachers. Kaplan, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO) and its largest revenue generator, with 2003 revenue of $838 million.
About Scantron Corporation
Scantron Corporation ( www.scantron.com ) is headquartered in Irvine, CA, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based John H. Harland Company (NYSE:JH). Scantron is a leading provider of software services and systems for the collection, management and interpretation of data to the educational, financial and commercial markets. The company has approximately 600 employees worldwide and annual revenues exceeding $110 million.
This press release contains statements, which may constitute "forward-looking statements." These statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of John H. Harland Company and members of its respective management, as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Reference is made to the Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements in Harland's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed under the Securities Exchange Act.
Note to editors: Kaplan is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO).