Five San Antonio School Districts Choose Riverdeep's Destination Success Solution; $1.2 Million Agreement Provides Teachers and Students with Destination Math

Business Wire, Jan 20, 2005

SAN FRANCISCO & SAN ANTONIO -- Five Independent School Districts (ISD) in the San Antonio Area including North East, Northside, South San Antonio, Harlandale and Alamo Heights have adopted Riverdeep's Destination Math(R) in a partnership with the San Antonio Urban Systemic Program (SAUSP). SAUSP is a nonprofit federally funded program focused on improving the teaching of mathematics and science and improving student achievement and also provided the training for these districts as part of the partnership with Riverdeep. Accelerated Mathematics Instruction (AMI) funds, created to assist low performing students, were used to purchase Destination Math. They also used Title 1, Bilingual and Special Education funds.

In November 2003, Riverdeep received separate calls from a North East ISD and a Northside ISD administrator, both of whom were looking for a mathematics solution rich in instruction. They had done extensive research and found that Destination Math met the requirements they had been looking for. SAUSP and Riverdeep joined forces in August 2004 to provide a local Riverdeep consultant to help with implementation. Over 800 teachers were trained by the end of December, 2004. Another collaboration between Riverdeep and SAUSP brought on board the campuses at all levels in South San Antonio and Harlandale ISDs. SAUSP was looking for a technology curriculum to help change the way teachers teach mathematics and Riverdeep met that challenge.

"The districts' wanted to establish a good intervention program for students needs," said Gail Pierson, Riverdeep's Chief Education Officer. "The districts have been successful at adopting the program because they have been able to roll out the intervention with little effort and with few technical issues."

Pierson went on to say that, "Smaller districts like South San Antonio and Harlandale are benefiting from this type of partnership between districts and non-profits like USP because they can bring teachers together for training purposes (economies of scale)."

The five districts and USP chose Destination Success(TM) because the content supports different teaching approaches, and includes comprehensive District reporting capabilities. The program also allows teachers to share texts and activities with other teachers.

"The teachers love the management system and knowing about the students, to keep current on each of their students. Destination Math is absolutely on the leading edge of technology and what we knew technology could do for the teacher but I have never seen it before Riverdeep," said Dr. Sandra Bloom the Project Director for a National Science Foundation Grant for the Advancement of Math and Science at San Antonio's USP. "I think another major appeal about Destination Math is that it not only tends to the needs of the children, it allows teachers to upgrade their knowledge."

About Destination Success

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 solution consists of Riverdeep's award winning courseware, Destination Math and Destination Reading, learning management system and professional services. Destination Success empowers educators with both the tools and the training necessary to provide effective, standards-based instruction as well as assessment. Destination Success provides teachers with the tools they need to effectively individualize instruction in a real-world classroom.

About Riverdeep

Riverdeep Inc., LLC, with offices in Dublin, Ireland, San Francisco, California, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a leading publisher of interactive products focusing on education and personal productivity for the consumer and school markets. Riverdeep's rich portfolio of interactive award-winning products feature such well-known brands as The Destination Success solution which includes Destination Math(R) and Destination Reading(R), 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.