Houghton Mifflin Co. News Release - September 21, 2005

Houghton Mifflin Acquires Many Larson Learning, Inc. K–12 Products, Including Award-winning Mathematics Materials

BOSTON — September 21, 2005 — Houghton Mifflin Company announces the acquisition of many Larson Learning, Inc. K–12 mathematics products by two of its divisions, Great Source Education Group and McDougal Littell.

Great Source Education Group, Houghton Mifflin’s supplemental educational publishing division, acquired several K–6 programs from Larson Learning, and McDougal Littell, Houghton Mifflin’s secondary educational publishing division, acquired programs for grades 7–12.

The Larson Learning materials were developed by Ron Larson, one of Houghton Mifflin’s most prolific math authors and one of the most respected names in educational publishing. The acquisition provides McDougal Littell and Great Source with a ready-made set of award-winning courseware developed by and an opportunity to enhance and extend their divisions’ math lines.

“The Larson series of math programs is one of our key programs in the secondary market. We’re pleased to offer our customers the Larson Learning courseware materials as an enhancement to the core instruction in our Larson print materials,” said Rita Schaefer, president of McDougal Littell.

“At Great Source, we see the Larson Learning programs as true supplemental products that can be used in a variety of ways to extend students’ learning of math. They are supportive of the core program and can be used as an intervention program, for afterschool or summer school, and for remediation,” said Steve Zukowski, president of Great Source Education Group.

The Larson Learning courseware series is designed to help students develop mastery of essential grade-level math skills and concepts through a variety of activities. Awarded the 2003 Reader’s Choice Award by eSchool News magazine, the series consists of interactive software, online resources, print-based materials, and professional development.

“The Larson Learning courseware provides multisensory learning for students in math,” said author Ron Larson, who invested more than ten years to develop the series. “It is unique in the market, and we are excited that it will be offered by McDougal Littell and Great Source.”

About McDougal Littell
McDougal Littell, a division of Houghton Mifflin Company, is among the fastest growing publishers in the United States, recognized for its innovation, dedication, and responsiveness to the needs of educators. Based in Evanston, Illinois, the Company publishes print and technology materials for language arts, mathematics, social studies, world languages, and science for grades 6 through 12. The Company’s Web site can be found at www.mcdougallittell.com.

About Great Source
Great Source Education Group publishes affordable, curriculum-based supplemental resources for students and teachers in grades pre-K through 12, as well as for parents and homeschoolers. With offerings in the core curriculum areas of reading, language arts, math and science, Great Source also publishes programs designed to meet specific initiatives such as summer school, afterschool, intervention, test prep, and ESL. The company’s Web site can be found at www.greatsource.com.

About Houghton Mifflin
Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Company is one of the leading educational publishers in the United States, with over $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. Additionally, Houghton Mifflin offers computer-administered testing programs and services for the professional and certification markets. 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.