Catapult Learning Announces Catapult Online, Live, Individualized, Direct Instruction

Catapult Learning Announces Catapult Online, Live,
Individualized, Direct Instruction
Enables Districts to Overcome Geographic Barriers, Logistical Challenges, and
Concerns About Quality Supplemental Education 


BALTIMORE, June 7  /PRNewswire/ -- Catapult Learning, LLC, a leading provider
of public school, non-public school, and community based education services,
including the free tutoring services required under No Child Left Behind
(NCLB), today announced the launch of Catapult Online, an interactive,
research-based tutoring service that delivers live, individualized, direct
instruction to students - right in their homes. Catapult Online combines
powerful state-of-the-art technology with state-certified U.S. teachers and a
proprietary instructional methodology to deliver measurable, proven gains in
student achievement.

"School districts across the country face logistical challenges that limit
participation in after-school programs, including limited space, transportation
complexities, and geographic barriers," noted Jeffrey H. Cohen, president,
Catapult Learning. "Catapult Online helps districts overcome these challenges
because the service is delivered in the safety and convenience of each
student's home. No other supplemental education product or service can deliver
live, individualized instruction with this breadth, and no other program has
our proven track record of helping students improve academically. For all these
reasons, early district response to Catapult Online has been extremely
favorable.  We look forward to establishing more district partnerships in the
coming months to deliver academic services via Catapult Online."

Catapult Online is already being used by school districts large and small,
urban and rural, to overcome logistical challenges and geographic barriers that
often prevent students from participating in after-school programs, including
supplemental educational services required under NCLB. Approximately 1,500
students are currently enrolled in the Catapult Online tutoring program. Some
of the school districts that have utilized Catapult Online to serve   these
students include:  Los Angeles Unified School District (CA), Hartford Public
Schools (CT), Chicago Public Schools (IL), Central Consolidated Schools (NM),
Prince George's County Public Schools (MD), Richland County Public Schools,
District One (SC), and Albuquerque Public Schools (NM).

Catapult Learning recently partnered with the Association of Education Service
Agencies (AESA) to develop a pilot program supported by a $5 million grant from
the U.S. Department of Education to deliver Catapult Online to students in
rural and remote areas. Under the grant, Catapult Online is working in
partnership with AESA to provide free tutoring to 2,300 rural public school
students in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Georgia over the next five years.

Catapult Online blends 25 years of proven instructional methodology with
digital technology to provide a unique and enriching learning experience that
generates consistent academic achievement.  On average, students participating
in 36 hours of Catapult Online instruction achieve a grade level gain of 1.2
years in reading and 1.8 years in math.  The Catapult Online curriculum was
accredited in July 2002 by the Commission on International and Trans-Regional
Accreditation (CITA) and in November 2002, by the Middle States Commission on
Elementary Schools.

Catapult Online's proprietary curriculum is delivered on a personal computer
that is provided free of charge by Catapult.  Students earn the right to keep
the computer by completing the program. Unlike most online programs that offer
only asynchronous instruction, Catapult Online provides, live, synchronous
instruction, using voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and electronic
whiteboard technologies.  Catapult Online's state-certified U.S. teachers
utilize more than 11,000 math and reading lessons to engage students in live,
two-way verbal instruction and written exercises.  Student work is continuously
monitored, and teachers can view session history and track progress on specific
skills for each student using an online Curriculum panel. Parents are also
given the ability to log-on to a secure web page to check on their child's
progress or modify the schedule at any time during the program.

Catapult Online's diagnostic and prescriptive curriculum allows teachers to
deliver the most appropriate lessons to address specific needs of individual
students.  Students are taught one skill at a time, according to an
individualized learning plan.  They must demonstrate skill mastery and the
ability to apply new skills in the classroom before advancing in their learning
plan. Catapult Online offers maximum  flexibility and customization by enabling
teachers to  monitor student work continuously and adjust the curriculum
accordingly.

About Catapult Online

Catapult Online is a wholly-owned and operated subsidiary of Catapult Learning,
a leading provider of public school, non-public school, and community-based
education services. Catapult Online provides a research-based, online tutoring
program that delivers live, individualized, direct instruction to students -
right in their homes.  Catapult Online combines powerful, state of the art
technology with state certified teachers and a proprietary instructional
methodology to deliver measurable, proven gains in student achievement. School
districts large and small, urban and rural, have turned to Catapult Online to
break down geographic barriers and overcome logistical challenges to deliver
supplemental instruction and test preparation services to thousands of students
in grades 3-12. Catapult Online and Catapult Learning are owned by parent
company, Educate, Inc. (NASDAQ:EEEE)

About Catapult Learning

Catapult Learning, formerly known as Sylvan Education Solutions, is a leading
provider of public school, non-public school, and community-based education
services, including supplemental reading and math instruction and special
education services. For more than 15 years, Catapult Learning has partnered
with schools and school districts to provide high-quality, research- based
supplemental education services, including those called for through the
enactment of the landmark No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Catapult Learning is
a sister company of Sylvan Learning Center, which operates well-known tutoring
centers in locations across North America. Catapult Learning is a division of
Educate, Inc. (NASDAQ:EEEE). More information on Catapult Learning can be found
at http://www.catapultlearning.com/.

About Educate, Inc.

Educate, Inc. (NASDAQ:EEEE) is a leading pre-K-12 education services company
delivering supplemental education services to students and their families.  It
has a portfolio of highly acclaimed brands including Sylvan Learning Centers,
North America's largest and most trusted network of tutoring centers, providing
supplemental, remedial and enrichment instruction; Hooked on Phonics,
delivering highly regarded early reading, math and study skills programs; and
Catapult Learning, a leading provider of educational services to public and
non-public schools.  More information on Educate, Inc. can be found at
http://www.educate-inc.com/.

Forward-looking Statements

This release includes information that could constitute forward-looking
statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements involve risks
and uncertainties.  Although the Company believes that the expectations
reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable
assumptions, the Company's actual results could differ materially from those
described in the forward-looking statements.  The following factors might cause
such a difference:  the development and expansion of the Sylvan Learning Center
franchise system; changes in the relationships among Sylvan Learning Center and
its franchisees; the Company's ability to effectively manage business growth;
increased competition from other educational service providers; changes in laws
and government policies and programs; changes in the acceptance of the
Company's services by institutional customers and consumers; changes in
customer relationships; the seasonality of operating results; global economic
conditions, including interest and currency rate fluctuations, and inflation
rates.  Additional information regarding these and other risk factors and
uncertainties are set forth from time to time in the Company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, available for viewing on the Company's
website http://www.educate-inc.com/.  (To access this information on the
Company's website, click on "Investor Relations" and then "SEC Filings".)  All
forward-looking statements are based on information available to the Company on
the date of this Release.  The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. 

DATASOURCE: Catapult Learning, LLC



CONTACT:  Alice Cherry of Catapult Learning, [phone], or

; or Jodie Pozo-Olano of Sequoia PR for Catapult

Learning, [phone], or  



Web site:  http://www.catapultlearning.com/

http://www.educate-inc.com/

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