Kaplan SpellRead Earns Top Marks from What Works Clearinghouse

Business Wire, August 3, 2007

Independent reviewer established by the U.S. Department of Education cites "positive effects" of reading program

NEW YORK -- In an independent review of 20 reading programs by a research unit established by the U.S. Department of Education, Kaplan SpellRead, a reading intervention program from Kaplan K12 Learning Services for struggling students, received the highest ratings of all programs reviewed in three of the four categories defining effectiveness. The top ratings earn Kaplan SpellRead the distinction as one of a highly select group of programs approved for inclusion in the Department of Education's What Works Clearinghouse, the leading authority in scientific analysis of education program effectiveness nationwide. Only programs that meet strict research-based standards of effectiveness are included in the What Works Clearinghouse.

Following a careful review of the effects of Kaplan SpellRead on a sampling of first-, second- and third-grade students in the U.S. and in Canada, the What Works Clearinghouse reported that the program met its strict evidence standards. The report concluded that Kaplan SpellRead was found to have "positive effects on alphabetics and potentially positive effects on fluency and comprehension." No other reading program evaluated had a higher rating than Kaplan SpellRead in these categories.

A comparative chart of the results can be found at: http://www.whatworks.ed.gov/Topic.asp?tid=01&ReturnPage=default.asp

Kaplan SpellRead is currently being used in schools in Florida, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. It is geared towards students two or more years below grade level in reading, are receiving special education, or are English language learners. The program consists of 140 lessons implemented in three distinct phases that interweave phonemics (how abstract sound units function within a given language), phonetics (the physical production of the sounds of speech), and instruction in language-based reading and writing. Kaplan SpellRead is used with small groups of five students and one instructor in 60-90 minute classes. Each lesson includes activities to develop phonemic, phonetic, semantic, syntactic, comprehension/vocabulary, and fluency skills. Kaplan SpellRead includes comprehensive professional development and ongoing expert support to educators as they implement the program. A web-based Instructor Support System allows educators to closely monitor student progress.

Kaplan K12 Learning Services provides a range of curriculum and professional development services to school districts across the country, including New York City; Philadelphia; Chicago; Los Angeles; Clayton County, Georgia; Pinellas and Polk Counties, Florida; and elsewhere.

About Kaplan K12 Learning Services

Kaplan K12 Learning Services (www.KaplanK12.com), part of Kaplan, Inc., partners with schools to provide high-quality instructional programs in grades K-12 that improve results and help all students achieve. These partnerships focus on a district's specific needs in five major areas: custom-developed curriculum, reading and math intervention, key academic skills, test-readiness, and college opportunities. The company works closely with some of the largest school districts in the country and supports its programs through professional development, additional on-site staff, formative assessment programs, and integrated technology solutions. Kaplan, Inc. is subsidiary of the Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)