AOL Foundation Teams Up With D.C.'s Calvin Coolidge High School.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3, 1999--

AOL ACHIEVERS Program Offers

AOL Employee Mentors, Computers, SAT Prep and Scholarships

to Help Students Succeed

Calling education a "gateway to success" America Online Chairman and CEO Steve Case today challenged Calvin Coolidge High School students at an all-school assembly to set their sights high, pledging scholarships, free SAT prep courses and AOL employee mentors to students who excel in the classroom.

Through the program, called AOL ACHIEVERS and sponsored by the AOL Foundation, the Northwest DC high-school will also receive 30 Pentium computers for use in a new computer lab, as well as other benefits from the partnership with Dulles, Va.-based AOL.

AOL ACHIEVERS seeks to build students skills, raise aspirations for post-secondary education, create a sense of community and foster student and teacher involvement through online communications. The AOL Foundation intends for the initiative to become a pilot program to explore the uses of interactive technology in spurring greater student achievement.

The program uses financial incentives to encourage high academic performance in high school. Specifically, Calvin Coolidge freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible to receive a $500 scholarship toward post-secondary education for each semester they receive a combined grade point average of 3.5.

Additionally, each semester, one student per grade level who shows the most improved grades, regardless of GPA, will receive this grant.

"These terrific kids are going to learn just how empowering this new interactive technology can be in their lives -- and we're committed to helping them all become AOL Achievers," said Jim Kimsey, Chairman of the AOL Foundation.

Steve Case outlined the AOL ACHIEVERS program to Calvin Coolidge students at an all-school assembly this morning.

He was joined on stage by Jim Moore, an employee of America Online and graduate of Calvin Coolidge High School; Judge Kennedy, a U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia and also an alumni of the school; Dr. Glenn Jones, Principal of Calvin Coolidge High School; and Superintendent of D.C High Schools, Ralph Neal.

"Making good grades and going on to college may seem like an awesome mountain to scale," Steve Case told the students, "but we're going to do everything we can to help you scale it. We look at this as much more than a mentoring or scholarship program. Like the new medium we're building, it's all about creating a community together that works together toward worthwhile goals. And no goal is more important than doing well in school."

Through this pilot program AOL will match AOL employee volunteers to mentor students at Calvin Coolidge. Once a student qualifies to be an AOL Achiever, he or she will be paired with an America Online mentor, based on academic, career and personal interests.

The program includes experimenting with new approaches for using technology to achieve enhanced student performance, such as: an area online where students can access mentoring through chat rooms and email; online access to college prep materials and AOL's educational content and online assistance. Students will also have access to online courses to help them improve their study skills.

"We're going to test a variety of incentives and technological approaches to determine what formula works best for educational success in a business/education partnership," said Kimsey.

Kaplan Educational Centers, one of the nation's premier education companies and the leader in test preparation, will provide SAT preparation for AOL ACHIEVERS on-site at Calvin Coolidge High School.

In addition, Kaplan will offer workshops on using online resources to explore colleges and navigate the admissions process. Students can identify colleges that meet their individual needs and interests, take virtual college tours, download free SAT prep materials, get expert advice, and learn interview tips and financial aid strategies.

"AOL Achievers is sure to have a positive impact on the students of Calvin Coolidge High School, and we're excited to be a part of this program," said Jonathan Grayer, Kaplan's president and CEO.

"We are excited to be partnering with people who are so focused on the future and who have redefined the meaning of 'achievement,'" said Dr. Glenn Jones, Principal of Calvin Coolidge High School.

"Our students also are excited about using the Internet for help with school and to have a mentor to guide them through the process. We commend AOL and the AOL Foundation for addressing important educational needs in its own backyard."

The AOL Foundation, founded by America Online in 1997, seeks to improve the lives of families and children and empower disadvantaged communities through technology. The Interactive Education Initiative is the AOL Foundation's first major grant initiative.

Another chief Foundation effort is the Civic Involvement Initiative, which strengthens communities by supporting the volunteer efforts of AOL employees. For more information on the AOL Foundation, visit www.aolfoundation.org on America Online, use keyword: AOL FOUNDATION.