Scottsdale, AZ. June 27, 2005 --At the National Educational Computing Conference in Philadelphia this week, Pearson Digital Learning is introducing a totally redesigned and updated version of Math Concepts and Skills, one of the most popular components of the company’s venerable SuccessMaker® Enterprise digital courseware.

Designed for kindergarten through grade eight, Math Concepts and Skills provides interactive practice and assessment in elementary mathematics foundations. The newly redesigned Math Concepts and Skills 2 provides the same proven supplemental curriculum as found in Math Concepts and Skills, but is enhanced with new themes and user interfaces - each researched and designed to incorporate direct feedback from students.

"Pearson Digital Learning is continually investing in and adapting its products to meet the needs of students," said Peggy Kinder, Ph.D., vice president of education at Pearson Digital Learning. "Based on feedback from customers and our on-going research, Math Concepts and Skills 2 restructures how content is presented to students. The new interface is not only easier to use, but will increase students’ level of engagement to improve learning and performance across critical mathematics foundations."

The new Math Concepts and Skills 2 interface features one new theme for kindergarten and first grade, and a new theme for each subsequent level from grades two through eight. Each theme is highlighted with new multimedia characters which act as lesson guides, illustrations, session intro animations, reward animations, and student resources. The themes provide a continuous learning experience, remaining consistent throughout the school year for each grade level - regardless of performance level - to ensure that students feel they are performing on par with their peers and remain actively engaged.

Like its predecessor, the new Math Concepts and Skills 2 provides guided, interactive practice covering more than 1,600 mathematics learning objectives. The program is organized in strands. The "Computation" strands include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, equations and speed games. The "Application" strands include number concepts, geometry, measurement, word problems, applications, problem solving, science applications, and probability and statistics.

An added benefit of Math Concepts & Skills, and all SuccessMaker courses, is the Results Manager management system which provides reporting necessary to individualize instruction, maximize accountability, and promote data-driven decision making.

"We use Math Concepts and Skills to supplement what teachers are doing in the classroom to help them address the requirements of No Child Left Behind. It addresses the needs of each student at his or her level, and the program’s reports show teachers where students are struggling, so they know if they need to re-teach a concept in a different way in the classroom," said Carrie Wells, computer lab technician for Walter Douglas Elementary School in the Flowing Wells School District in Tucson, Ariz. "Since we began using Math Concepts and Skills in 2001, our test scores have risen. We know the program has been helpful in raising our scores, and we’re very much looking forward to implementing Math Concepts and Skills 2 in the new school year."

Math Concepts and Skills 2 is part of Pearson Digital Learning’s new SuccessMaker Enterprise 1.5 release. It will be available at no additional charge to all SuccessMaker Enterprise customers with current support in August. SuccessMaker Enterprise operates on both Windows® and Macintosh® platforms.

About SuccessMaker Enterprise
SuccessMaker® Enterprise is an adaptive learning environment that offers a powerful combination of management system, assessment, and curriculum resources to provide administrators, teachers, and students with tools to improve academic performance. Based on more than 40 years of research and results, SuccessMaker has an extensive track record unmatched by any other system currently available. SuccessMaker’s powerful management system, Results Manager, provides reporting necessary to individualize instruction, maximize accountability, and promote data-driven decision making.

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® Enterprise and NovaNET® educational courseware; and the KnowledgeBox® digital learning system. Pearson Digital Learning is also the exclusive distributor for the Waterford Early Reading Program™ and Waterford Early Math & Science™, adaptive computer-based instruction developed by the Waterford Institute.
Pearson Digital Learning is part of Pearson Education the world's leading integrated education company, which in turn is part of Pearson (NYSE: PSO) the international media company. More information can be found at: www.PearsonDigital.com.

Contact:
Leslie Eicher,APR
Eicher Communications Inc.
314-965-1776
Leslie@EicherCommunications.com