Houghton Mifflin Co. News Release - May 13, 2008

Jones County School System, Georgia, Selects DataDirector™

New version to provide customized data-driven decision making and assessment solution for Georgia schools

CHICAGO — May 13, 2008 — Riverside Publishing, a subsidiary of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and a leader in comprehensive educational standards-based assessment, today announced that the Jones County School System (JCSS) in suburban Macon, Georgia, will implement the online data management and assessment solution DataDirector™ to improve data management and student achievement in the district.

JCSS is working with Riverside in a program designed to develop the Georgia-specific version of DataDirector. Other state-specific versions are currently in use in California, Texas and Michigan.

DataDirector integrates state, district, and local data, allowing educators to manage data from the Georgia tests and exit exams, create Georgia standards-aligned tests, create reports on student progress in acquiring the standards, and make decisions using interrelated data as mandated by NCLB.

"Our team of district and school staff looked at several data management products and quickly selected DataDirector because it is so intuitive and easy to use. We have a solid partnership with the DataDirector team and are working with them to enter all the Georgia standards into the system and identify test items," said Vicki Rogers, JCSS Assistant Superintendent for Grades 6–12 and Technology.

"Although we were doing a pretty good job of data disaggregation and school improvement the old way — using Excel, hand-counting, and every method imaginable — we knew we needed to become more effective, efficient, and accurate to reach our goals."

Georgia's DataDirector Item Bank will contain thousands of test items aligned to the

Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) in English-language arts, math, and science, as well as history-social science.

"DataDirector is different from simple assessment solutions because it provides an in-depth picture," said Lane Rankin, Vice President, Data Management Solutions, and a former teacher and school administrator. "Different types of data can be combined over time to maximize reporting, develop interventions, and create informal assessments, as well as manage grades, transcripts, assessment data, and teacher credentialing information."

Designed to be cost-effective in a tight budget environment, DataDirector combines five programs in one, operates easily with low-cost scanners and regular paper, and simplifies all the complicated tasks associated with data collection and reporting. With an outstanding track record of customer satisfaction, DataDirector has been a key factor in improving student performance in other states.

For more information on DataDirector, please visit www.datadirector.com or call 877-993-2633

About DataDirector
DataDirector is an innovative online data warehouse and assessment management solution that provides educators with a fast and powerful decision-support system. Designed to help administrators and teachers improve student performance, DataDirector helps make sense of a range of data to provide longitudinal tracking and reporting of student assessment data, student demographic data, and program/event attendance, as well as professional development activities, paraprofessional activities, student grades, and teacher data. 

About Riverside Publishing
Riverside serves both the K–12 educational assessment market and the clinical assessment market with print, CD-ROM and online assessment tools. Among Riverside flagship products are The Iowa Tests^®, the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests^®, and Woodcock-Johnson^® III, as well as DataDirector™, and Assess2Know^®. Riverside also develops custom, scientifically research-based solutions to meet the unique needs of states and school districts across the nation. Riverside Publishing is a wholly owned subsidiary of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Information on Riverside products and services can be found at www.riversidepublishing.com or by calling 800-323-9540.

About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company is a global education company with approximately $2.5 billion in combined revenue. The Company publishes a comprehensive set of best-in-class pre-K–12 educational solutions, ranging from research-based textbook programs to instructional technology to standards-based assessments for students and educators. The Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning literature for adults and young readers. With origins dating back to 1832, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt combines its tradition of excellence with a commitment to innovation. To learn more about Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, visit www.hmhco.com.