Houghton Mifflin Co. News Release - July 5, 2006

Brother® and Riverside Publishing Feature Joint Hardware/Software Solution for K–12 Education Market at NECC 2006

Solution Enables Educators to Utilize Brother Hardware and Riverside’s Edusoft Software for Benchmark and Classroom Assessments

NECC Conference 2006, San Diego — July 5, 2006 — Brother International Corporation (Brother), a leading manufacturer of Multi-Function Centers^®, printers, fax machines, and electronic labeling systems, and Riverside Publishing, a division of Houghton Mifflin Company and leader in comprehensive educational standards-based assessment software, today announced a new K–12 hardware/software solution pairing Brother products with Riverside's Edusoft^® Assessment Management System. It will be featured at the 27th annual National Education Computing Conference (NECC) 2006 in San Diego, California from July 5–7 at the San Diego Convention Center, booth #2527.

The Edusoft Assessment Management System, a Web-based integrated assessment solution, is designed to work exclusively with Brother Digital Copiers and Multi-Function Centers, enabling educators to quickly and easily scan and score tests using plain paper answer sheets. Edusoft, combined with the Brother scanning devices, allows educators to retrieve test results online within minutes, analyze student performance data and access re-teaching materials and resources to improve instruction and student achievement. Edusoft and Brother together deliver a powerful assessment solution to swiftly score and analyze student results while providing superior service and support to K–12 districts. Through this relationship with Brother, Edusoft customers also receive preferred customer service and additional warranty protection.

The Edusoft system easily tracks and monitors student performance on state standards through three kinds of tests: state exams, district formative assessments and in-class teacher tests. The system makes administering tests quick, easy and cost-effective; delivers rapid turnaround of results; provides an integrated content, assessment and intervention solution; and increases the effectiveness of districts' instructional investments. Since its inception, Edusoft has scored approximately 40 million tests in more than 400 school districts.

"Our solution is positioned to answer the real needs of today's K–12 market. Together, Riverside's Edusoft system and Brother deliver immediate online access to student performance data while allowing educators to retain the practicality of paper-based testing," said Steve Polsky, Vice President of Formative Assessments, Riverside Publishing. "The combination of Brother and Edusoft gives our customers a solution that is effective, easy-to-use and, most importantly, helps facilitate data-driven instruction."

Brother combines all the advantages of a global technology company with the ability to manufacture some of the most innovative, advanced and reliable products available for school districts, administrators, teachers and parents. With its U.S. headquarters in Bridgewater, New Jersey, Brother has a nationwide sales and support network that the education market can rely on. Its venture with Edusoft was the first of its kind for Brother in the K–12 educational arena.

With award-winning products, Brother offers real solutions to current K–12 challenges:

"Anticipating future needs for technological expertise and innovation is extremely important for technology integrators. For each of our product solutions, we provide both superior pre- and post-sales service with user-friendly technical advice and responsive support. We are proud to work with Edusoft and be associated with such an innovative product," said Mark Emmerson, National Director of Sales, Commercial Machines Division. "Quality is required and exemplified at every level of our organization whether in manufacturing and materials; products and services; research and development; and in our choice of personnel and suppliers."

Both companies measure their success entirely on customer satisfaction. The Edusoft technology is a user-friendly assessment tool that truly helps teachers and schools make an impact. Riverside's team of experienced professionals with vast knowledge in education and Web-based software, together with Brother and its award winning products, can help students realize their full potential.

Brother currently markets a full line of Multi-Function Centers, printers, fax machines, and more than 20 different P-touch Electronic Labeling Systems, encompassing handheld and desktop models and computer-connected label printers.

For more information, please contact 1-866-4EDUSOFT (866-433-8763) or visit www.edusoft.com. For additional information on Brother products, please call 1-877-476-6824 or go to www.brother.com.

About Brother
Brother in Bridgewater is the corporate headquarters for Brother in the Americas, (from Canada to South America) and has fully integrated sales, manufacturing, marketing, research and development capabilities, located here in the US. In addition to its headquarters in Bridgewater, New Jersey, Brother has branches in California, Illinois, Massachusetts and Tennessee, as well as subsidiaries in Ohio, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico. Also visit us at www.brother.com. 1-877-476-6824.

About Riverside Publishing
Riverside Publishing offers a wide range of highly regarded educational, cognitive and developmental assessment products. Among Riverside’s flagship products are The Iowa Tests^®, the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests^®, Assess2Know^®, Edusoft^® Assessment Management System, and the Woodcock-Johnson^® III. As a charter member of the Association of Test Publishers, Riverside serves both the K–12 educational markets and the clinical assessment market with print, CD-ROM and online assessment tools. Riverside Publishing was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of Houghton Mifflin in 1979. Information on Riverside’s educational and clinical products can be found at www.riversidepublishing.com or at 800-323-9540.

About Houghton Mifflin
Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Company is one of the leading educational publishers in the United States, with more than $1 billion in sales. Houghton Mifflin publishes textbooks, instructional technology, assessments and other educational materials for elementary and secondary schools and colleges. The Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers. With its origins dating back to 1832, Houghton Mifflin combines its tradition of excellence with a commitment to innovation. The Company’s Web site can be found at www.hmco.com.