Atlanta, GA, May 5, 2008 – Student assessment just got a little easier for teachers around the country. Pearson's new handheld device, the DRA2 Handheld Tango Edition, launching today at the International Reading Association conference in Atlanta, streamlines the process with new and improved features.

The research-based Developmental Reading Assessment, Second Edition, provides one complete kit each for grades K-3 and 4-8. In addition, teachers now have the option of adding the new DRA2 Handheld Tango Edition to instantly capture and manage DRA2 data. DRA2 helps educators identify each student's reading ability, document progress, and tailor teaching to drive effective reading instruction.

Each paper kit offers new, more durable Benchmark Books to ensure that teachers have fiction and nonfiction texts at key DRA levels, a new training DVD, blackline masters on CD-ROM (as well as spiral-bound), and more support in the Teacher Guide for placing students in the correct level. Other benefits of the program enable teachers to match readers to appropriate reading levels and books and offer fast ways to group students effectively for reading instruction.

Also at IRA, Pearson will have over 20 other presentations featuring renowned authors like Jon Scieszka, Joetta Beaver, Doug Fisher, Nancy Frey, and Freddy Hiebert. Topics include Motivating Boys to Read, Building the Literacy Community, Supporting Fluency and many more.

About Pearson
Pearson is the global leader in educational publishing, assessment, information and services, helping people of all ages to learn at their own pace, in their own way. For students preK-12, Pearson provides effective and innovative curriculum products in all available media, educational assessment and measurement for students and teachers, student information systems, and teacher professional development and certification programs. Our respected brands include NovaNET, SuccessMaker, Waterford, KnowledgeBox, Scott Foresman, Prentice Hall, AGS, PowerSchool, TeacherVision and many others. Our comprehensive offerings help inform targeted instruction and intervention so that success is within reach of every student. Pearson's other primary businesses include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group.

Contact:
Matt Murphy
(480) 457-6024 or (480) 294-3959
Matt.Murphy@Pearson.com