Houghton Mifflin Co. News Release - 04/28/04

Two Million Georgia Students Prepare for State Exam Using Riverside Publishing Online Test Preparation Program

Georgia Department of Education and Riverside Publishing Deliver Computer-Based CRCT Practice Test to Boost Student Achievement Statewide

ATLANTA, Ga. - April 28, 2004 - As Georgia schools administer the annual Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT), thousands of students are approaching the challenge having benefited from a computer-based test practice program. In the days leading up to the CRCT administration, more than 88,000 students used the online practice system each day, totaling more than two million online tests taken since the program was first made available in January.

The Online CRCT was developed by the Georgia Department of Education and Riverside Publishing, a division of Houghton Mifflin Company. It provides access to short tests containing questions similar to those found on the actual CRCT, which is used to measure how well students acquire the skills and knowledge described in the Quality Core Curriculum (QCC). Students are tested in reading, English/language arts, and math in grades 1-8, and science and social studies in grades 3-8.

"The CRCT Online is another way we're helping our teachers and administrators boost student achievement," said State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. "The online system places valuable information in the hands of teachers before the actual test is given, which will help them target remediation and address specific areas where more attention is needed."

The system has quickly become an essential tool for the Georgia Department of Education by empowering teachers and administrators to make data-driven decisions that ensure the success of Georgia schools. Throughout the system implementation, Riverside has worked with the Georgia Department of Education to ensure that teachers can rely on the system and incorporate it into their daily activities.

Riverside Publishing, also publishers of the statewide CRCT assessment, designed the online practice system to help provide teachers with immediate access to student results. The System contains both student self-assessment testlets for evaluation, remediation, and enrichment purposes, and teacher-created testlets that provide feedback on student progress toward the QCC. Teachers can assign computer-generated tests or create customized tests of their own. By designing new tests, teachers can select from thousands of questions using an online "shopping cart." Test results are available to teachers as soon as the student is finished and will immediately identify lessons that need to be reinforced or students who need extra help.

"I've used the CRCT Online Practice System in various ways to practice test taking skills and strategies with my class," said Debra Miller, third grade teacher at Julia P. Bryant Elementary School in Statesboro, Ga. "The system identifies areas of student weakness and helps me to target additional instruction to meet those student needs. The needs assessment and skills practice will be very helpful in preparing the students to take the actual test."

Created using Riverside's flexible Assess2Learn^® technology platform, the CRCT Online Practice System can also be updated to reflect future revisions of the state QCC standards.

"We are enthusiastic about the use of the CRCT Online Practice System in the classroom, as well as the impact it has on instructional practice," said John Laramy, president, Riverside Publishing. "Riverside is working in partnership with the Georgia Department of Education to provide teachers with the tools they need to help their students succeed."

School systems throughout Georgia will be administering the CRCT to students from April 12 through May 5. For more information on the CRCT and other Georgia testing programs, visit the Georgia Department of Education Web site at www.gadoe.org and select "Testing Programs" from the drop down menu.

For more information about assessment solutions from Riverside Publishing, please visit www.riverpub.com.

About Houghton Mifflin
Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Company is one of the leading educational publishers in the United States; publishing 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, and 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 website can be found at www.hmco.com.

CONTACT:
Collin Earnst
Vice President, Communications
Houghton Mifflin Company
617-351-5113
collin_earnst@hmco.com