The School Board of Pinellas County Adopts Riverdeep's Destination Success; $750,000 Agreement Will Provide Teachers and Students with Destination Math

Business Wire, Nov 17, 2004

SAN FRANCISCO -- The School Board of Pinellas County, the seventh-largest school district in Florida and the 22nd-largest in the United States, has approved a $750,000 agreement to make Riverdeep's Destination Math(R) a key component of its Math standards-based instruction for students, and to continue to provide teachers with the tools they need to effectively individualize instruction in a real-world classroom.

Under the agreement, approved by the Board in August, all of the district's 85 elementary schools will have access to Destination Math with support from Riverdeep's focused consultant team for continued professional development. This project began in Pinellas County Schools a year and a half ago with 10 Reading sites and 10 Math sites. This initial implementation involved a true collaborative effort between district curriculum and technology staff, school based personnel and Riverdeep. Because of that initial implementation and this expansion, Pinellas County now has 85 schools, up from 35, with Riverdeep's Destination Math and 39 schools with Destination Reading(R). Schools using the Riverdeep Destination Math and Destination Reading continue to grow because of the success of those who are currently using the program.

"Riverdeep has built a strong relationship with the curriculum and technology departments at the School Board of Pinellas County over the past three years," said Judy Ambler, Supervisor, Instructional Technology, Pinellas County Schools. Sandy Titsworth and Mary Conage, Supervisors of Elementary Mathematics, agreed. Sandy said, "The pedagogy is so well done in this program. Math can be very abstract and the program does an excellent job illustrating difficult concepts. It also makes math relevant to students by providing real world examples. Our students feel that the program has helped them really prepare for the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (FCAT)."

Ambler continued. "The Pinellas County license agreement for the individual schools allows for unlimited use of the programs at home and at school. The at-home connection is an outstanding opportunity for parents to assist students needing extra help and for parents to understand what their child is responsible for learning. How nice it can be for a parent and student to sit together at the computer, use the tutorial and practice activities and learn together!"

"This represents an expansion of an important partnership for Riverdeep," said Riverdeep Chief Education Officer Gail Pierson. "Pinellas understands the efficacy of portal enablement for anywhere anytime learning. We were pleased to help Pinellas with their active summer program and found their pro-active development of math resources to support the implementation of our products to be exemplary."

About Destination Success(R)

Destination Success is a critically needed solution for bringing a diverse student population to the same high level of academic achievement -- in as little as 90 days. The Destination Success Series consists of Riverdeep's award winning Destination Math, Destination Reading and Destination Teach products. Destination Success stands for sound, research-based pedagogy; responsive, on-going professional development; and proven technology. It enables teachers to provide standards-based instruction that adapts to the needs of each child, whether implemented in whole group instruction or in lab-based teaching models. Destination Success empowers educators with both the tools and the training necessary to provide effective, standards-based instruction and assessment in order to effectively administer individualized instruction in a real-world classroom.

About Riverdeep

Riverdeep Inc., A Limited Liability Company, with offices in Dublin, Ireland, San Francisco, California, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a leading publisher of interactive learning tools that engage children and empower teachers to realize success. The Destination Success(TM) solution which includes Destination Math(R) and, Destination Reading(R) is one of our award-winning product lines providing individualized learning in the school market. Riverdeep's rich portfolio of products also includes such well-known consumer brands as The Print Shop(R), Reader Rabbit(R) and Kid Pix(R). For more information, call toll free 888-242-6747 or visit www.riverdeep.net.