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Oregon Review Shows Waterford Early Reading Program Excels at Fulfilling Reading First Needs

Early Reading Curriculum from Pearson Digital Learning Outperforms Competitors in Review

MESA, Ariz. Nov. 30, 2004 - The Waterford Early Reading Program(TM) from Pearson Digital Learning has received one of the highest scores in a critical review of 106 supplemental and intervention curriculum programs for beginning reading. In the Review of Supplemental and Intervention Reading Programs, published by the Oregon Curriculum Review Panel and the Oregon Reading First Center, the Waterford Early Reading Program earned 215 out of a possible 246 points.

The Review of Supplemental and Intervention Reading Programs report was published to provide school personnel with information to help make informed decisions as they select instructional materials for reading programs funded by the federal Reading First initiative. Reading First, which was created under the No Child Left Behind Act, provides about $1 billion a year in state grants to help raise reading achievement in the nation's neediest schools. The program requires state and local grant recipients to use "scientifically based" instructional methods and materials and to be able to demonstrate improvements in student achievement.

Both the Oregon Curriculum Review Panel and the Oregon Reading First Center are part of the University of Oregon, a regional technical-assistance center for the Reading First program, and an authority on federal reading policy recognized by educators nationwide. A copy of the report can be found at:http://oregonreadingfirst.uoregon.edu/SIreport.php.

The Oregon Reading First review focused on five critical components: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Overall, the review scores indicate that the Waterford Early Reading Program provides a superb solution for schools looking for a proven, scientifically-based supplemental curriculum solution that meets the federal Reading First guidelines.

The Waterford Early Reading Program provides three levels of full-year instruction, from Level One for beginning readers through Level Three for fluent readers. In the Oregon review, Level One excelled in phonemic awareness and vocabulary, and also scored well in phonics and comprehension. Level Two for emergent readers scored strongly in all five components, with 100 percent scores in phonemic awareness and comprehension. Level Three for fluent readers scored particularly well in the areas of fluency, phonics and comprehension.

"More than 20 districts and schools across New York and North Carolina were awarded Reading First grants based, in part, on their selection of Waterford to provide supplemental instruction to their core reading programs. In the Oregon review, Waterford had the best score for the first and second grade programs, and by component, it scored highest in phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension," said Wendy Johnson, product marketing manager at Pearson Digital Learning. "We're honored to be included in the Oregon review."

About the Waterford Early Reading Program(TM)
Developed by PDL's distinguished partner, the nonprofit Waterford Institute, the Waterford Early Reading Program is a comprehensive early reading curriculum designed to help children learn to read through the use of state-of-the-art technology. Based on 10 years of research, the program contains three levels for emergent, beginning, and fluent readers, combining to provide 225 hours of individualized reading instruction. It is used in more than 4,200 elementary school classrooms by approximately 347,000 students, nationwide.

About Pearson Digital Learning
Working side by side with educators for over 40 years, Pearson Digital Learning is the leader in proven, comprehensive technologies for preK-12 education. Our mission is to provide innovative, research-based digital learning solutions that elevate the art and science of teaching, and inspire children to reach their greatest potential. Reaching more than 20 million students annually, our products include: the SuccessMaker(R) Enterprise and NovaNET(R) educational courseware; and the KnowledgeBox(R) digital learning system. Pearson Digital Learning is also the exclusive distributor for the Waterford Early Reading Program(TM) and Waterford Early Math & Science(TM), adaptive computer-based instruction developed by the Waterford Institute.

Pearson Digital Learning is part of Pearson Education (NYSE:PSO), the world's leading integrated education company.

More information can be found at: http://www.PearsonDigital.com/.

Contact:
Leslie Eicher
Eicher Communications, St. Louis
314-965-1776
Leslie@EicherCommunications.com