Charter Schools USA Names Jonathan D. Mariner Chief Operating Officer, Announces Addition of Equity Investors.

Business Editors/Education Writers

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 12, 2001

Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) announced today the appointment of Jonathan D. Mariner as its Chief Operating Officer. He will join CSUSA's senior leadership team, led by CSUSA's founder and CEO, Jonathan K. Hage.

In his capacity as COO, Mr. Mariner will be responsible for overseeing all of CSUSA's day-to-day activities, including education and school operations, marketing, finance, technology and human resources. "CSUSA was one of several options outside of the sports industry I was seriously considering when I initially made the decision to leave the Florida Marlins," stated Mr. Mariner. "Having been involved with Charter Schools USA for well over two years as an investor and member of its Board of Directors, I was very familiar with the charter school movement and with CSUSA's potential to become a leader in their industry."

Mr. Hage, CSUSA's Chairman and CEO stated: "We have consistently demonstrated our ability to develop charter schools with strong academic curriculum staffed with talented school faculty and administrators. To be able to attract someone of Jonathan's caliber to take a leadership role in our company's overall management further strengthens our core management team and prepare us to grow from five to over 50 schools in the next 3 to 5 years. This move also underscores how the charter school movement is becoming an integral part of the public education market."

Mr. Mariner joins CSUSA after having recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the Florida Marlins Baseball Club. Mr. Mariner joined the Marlins in its initial expansion year and served as President of the Marlins Ballpark Development Company until his resignation from the Club in October 2000. He also served as Vice Present and Chief Financial Officer of the Florida Panthers Hockey Club during its first two seasons, as well as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Pro Player Stadium.

Mr. Mariner has previously served in various senior management positions with the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, Ryder System, Inc., and MCI Telecommunications, Inc. A graduate of the University of Virginia and Harvard Business School, Mr. Mariner is also a Certified Public Accountant. He currently resides in Davie, Florida with his wife, Mildred, and their three sons, Brian, Matthew and Phillip.

Charter Schools USA also announced today that PPS Charter Schools, LLC, a charter school investment company headed by Phil Smith, has made a strategic financial investment in CSUSA. Mr. Smith is also Chairman of Phil Smith Automotive Group, a Fort Lauderdale-based operator of over twelve automotive franchises in Florida and North Carolina, including Toyota, Mitsubishi, Chrysler-Plymouth/Jeep, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Daewoo and Buick. In consideration of PPS Charter School's investment, Mr. Smith will join CSUSA's Board of Directors.

Mr. Smith joins Knowledge Universe (KU) and it's Knowledge Universe Learning Group (KULG) subsidiary as part of a growing number of companies who have made strategic investments in the charter school movement. Knowledge Universe has been a strategic partner with CSUSA since September 1999.

About Knowledge Universe Learning Group.

KULG companies enhance the adventure of learning from birth through graduate school. The range of products and services includes interactive education products; technology training and resources for teachers; early childhood education; and interactive learning Web sites for children, their parents, grandparents and teachers. Thomas Kalinske is president of Knowledge Universe and president of the Knowledge Universe Learning Group. He is the former CEO of Sega of America and Mattel.

Knowledge Universe was founded in 1996 with initial investments from Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle Corporation; Michael Milken, KU's Chairman; and Lowell Milken, President of the Milken Family Foundation, KU's Vice Chairman, and a recognized expert on education.

About Charter Schools USA.

Charter Schools USA, Inc. is one of the nation's leading and fastest growing Charter School development and management companies, serving kindergarten through 12th grade. CSUSA provides comprehensive turnkey school outsourcing for corporations, government entities, developers and non-profits, and assists with all phases of charter school design, planning, development, financing, construction, marketing, financing, human resources, curricula and school operations.

CSUSA schools are individually developed to meet the unique needs and requirements of the client and community. CSUSA's educational advantages include small class size, integrated technology, parental involvement contracts, student uniforms, enforced discipline polices, highly qualified and motivated staff, community focus and high academic performance.

CSUSA currently operates the nation's first municipally organized charter high school, the first charter school-in-the-workplace and one of the nation's largest charter schools. In addition to five schools currently under management, CSUSA has been approved by School Boards in Miami-Dade, Broward and Osceola Counties to develop and operate an additional 35 charter schools over the next 3 to 5 years.