Blackboard Used in Nine Out of the Top 10 High Schools on Newsweek's 2005 100 Best High Schools List

PHILADELPHIA, PA, Jun 28, 2005 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- NECC 2005, Pennsylvania Convention Center -- According to a list of the top 100 high schools in the United States published by Newsweek magazine this month, nine of the top 10 schools listed use Blackboard (NASDAQ: BBBB) as their e-Learning platform. Forty-one schools of the 100 on the list (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7723397/site/newsweek/) use Blackboard(R) solutions. The ranking is based on a ratio of the number of advanced placement and/or International Baccalaureate tests taken by all students, divided by the number of graduating seniors.

The role of technology in education for primary and secondary schools is currently under the spotlight as thousands of administrators and educators from across the country gather in Philadelphia this week for the 26th Annual National Educational Computing Conference (NECC). Blackboard Chief Executive Officer Michael Chasen will deliver an address at NECC today on how Blackboard is helping schools tackle the top K-12 learning challenges, including:

Engaging Students and Parents
Enhancing Professional Development
Managing Student Progress
Enabling Virtual Schools
Creating Learning Communities
Blackboard is currently used by nearly 400 K-12 clients in 47 states. K-12 schools use Blackboard in a variety of ways including supplementing traditional classroom instruction with online discussion boards and chat sessions, creating online gateways for parents to access students' assignments and grades, offering online summer school courses and online advanced placement courses.

"Providing online access to instructional resources and communication tools outside the traditional classroom adds a new dimension to instruction," said Mike Kowalski, Coordinator Fairfax County Public Schools online Campus. "Additionally, expanding access to full-credit high school courses and Advanced Placement classes through our FCPS Online Campus has made these courses more accessible to our diverse population."

Washington Post education reporter, Jay Matthews, who compiled the list of the top 100 high schools for Newsweek, says that advanced placement courses are crucial to helping students succeed when they get to college.

"To send a student off to college without having had an AP or IB course is like insisting that your child learn to ride a bike without ever taking off the training wheels," said Matthews. "It is dumb, and in my view a form of educational malpractice. But most American high schools still do it."

"We applaud all high schools that are providing challenging and stimulating curriculums in any form, and we are thrilled when Blackboard can help contribute to their success," said Michael Chasen, Chief Executive Officer of Blackboard. "As districts are continually challenged to do more with less, we hope that the software and services Blackboard provides will enable schools to meet multiple objectives."

About Blackboard Inc.

Blackboard is a leading provider of enterprise software and services to the education industry. The Company's product line consists of five software applications bundled in two suites, the Blackboard Academic Suite(TM) and the Blackboard Commerce Suite(TM). Blackboard's clients include colleges, universities, schools and other education providers, as well as textbook publishers and student-focused merchants that serve education providers and their students. Blackboard is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices and staff in North America, Europe and Asia.

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Blackboard and other statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on June 28, 2005 with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of March 30, 2005. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company's views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to June 28, 2005.

Blackboard Public Relations Manager:
Melissa Chotiner
Blackboard Inc.
202-463-4860 ext. 2404

Media Contact:
Dan Baum
DBC Public Relations Experts
202-298-7600 ext. 205

SOURCE: Blackboard Inc. 

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