class.com Online Courses Bridge the Digital Divide; Pennsylvania's Learning Institute for Employment and class.com Partner to Offer High School Diploma Programs

Business Wire, August 24, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 24, 2000

class.com, inc., the nation's first fully accredited virtual high school, and the Learning Institute for Employment, a licensed school, announced today a partnership to provide class.com online courses for out of school youth in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Under the terms of the agreement, class.com courses will be delivered over the Internet to students utilizing the services provided by the Learning Institute for Employment. Typically these are people who would otherwise not have the opportunity to complete the work necessary for a high school diploma or have a chance at a successful and meaningful career. The Internet-based courses will cover a wide range of subjects including English, American History, and Business.

All Internet-based courses are delivered under the direction of class.com's Independent Study High School (ISHS), fully accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Schools since 1978.

The Learning Institute for Employment founded their Internet learning program in 1994 with a federal grant and matching foundation funds. The program has proven itself time and time again, with 60% of those attending orientation completing the curriculum and obtaining a high school diploma.

"class.com is pleased to be a part of a program that provides 'under-served' students with a chance to receive the highest quality education using state of the art technology and the Internet," said John Blair, president and CEO for class.com. "class.com will be offering over 45 online courses to these students. We are pleased to be working with The Learning Institute for Employment to bridge the digital divide for the benefit of an extremely deserving group of students."

"We are continually improving opportunities for our students. We want our students to have the opportunity to learn about today's technology and how to use it," states Dr. Wilma Carter, president, Three Rivers Employment Services Inc. "class.com bridges the technology gap with online learning, as well as providing solid academic courses. Our goals are to educate our students, upgrade their skills, enhance their employment prospects and assist them in finding a profession that can last a lifetime. Each time this happens, everyone succeeds."

About class.com Courses

class.com represents the way of the future by providing courses without boundaries at anytime or anyplace. Using the Internet as a common and readily available delivery mechanism, courses can be updated on an on-going basis and students can learn at their own pace and direction. class.com offers core courses such as math, science, English and social studies in addition to business and career planning.

class.com courses provide a direct interaction between students and teachers. By using a standard web browser, students access course material that takes full advantage of advanced multimedia technologies. Students can log on and learn any time and anywhere there is a PC and an Internet connection.

Students view a combination of text, animated graphics, audio and video materials. A unique design and seamless navigational system encourages individualized discovery and learning. Downloading times are minimized by storing pictures, videos, and interactive graphics for off-line access. An online binder or notebook allows a student to take notes and store course materials in both text and multimedia formats for later reference.

About Learning Institute for Employment

Three Rivers Employment Services, Inc. has developed a core program that supports the mission of providing the education necessary to enable skilled workers to form a permanent attachment to the workforce. class.com's Internet-based courses will augment the audio-video program currently in use, and will provide students with exposure to and experience using cutting-edge technology. This program is delivered through a non-profit subsidiary of Three Rivers called the Learning Institute for Employment (L.I.F.E.), and integrates attitudinal adjustment, job readiness, technical training, job placement, and at least two years of follow-up support.

Through the tempering of attitudes, appearances, and actions, L.I.F.E. is able to help individuals determine their strengths and weaknesses, and build on their strengths to develop personal integrity and respect for others. This becomes the basis from which to teach acceptable workplace values and skills.

For more information the Learning Institute for Employment may be reached at 412/323-0100.

About class.com, inc.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska with area offices in Atlanta and San Francisco, class.com is a privately held company delivering online educational courses over the Internet for high school students throughout the world. The courses are offered under the direction of a fully accredited, university-based independent study high school as part of a full diploma program or for transfer to a student's current high school for diploma credit.