Curriculum Advantage Launches Version 5.7 of Classworks with a Universal Import Utility and 6,000 Test Items for Benchmark Assessments.

LOS ANGELES -- Curriculum Advantage, Inc. announced today that it has released its most significant update to Classworks -- a network-based system of K-12 reading and mathematics curriculum and learning tools -- since acquiring the product in March 2003. Classworks Version 5.7 now includes a universal import utility for processing test data and an improved benchmarking test, which gives teachers greater flexibility in assessing student proficiency on standardized skills.

"This is a significant upgrade because it simplifies the process for teachers to get raw test data into Classworks or to use internal benchmarks that automatically generate relevant learning plans for each child," said Lindsey Cook, president of Curriculum Advantage. "Now any exam data from any source has immediate relevance to the classroom teacher and she can turn that data into a path to better student achievement."

The new Classworks Benchmarking assessment includes 6,000 test items that can be assigned in whole units or by skill. Teachers now have greater flexibility when they create and assign tests measuring a student's understanding of entire units. Or, teachers can assign quick assessments that can be administered at the beginning of a 50-minute class period, followed by a Classworks-generated learning plan the student works on for the remainder of the period.

"The quick assessment feature will expand how my teachers can use Classworks," said Dr. Greg Gentry, director of testing and instructional technology in the Houston County School System. "In one class period for example, my teachers can check their students' understanding of fractions and then let Classworks immediately launch each student into their own activities that will fill in the gaps of their understanding."

In total, Classworks now includes 4,000 hours of learning activities. This newest release also includes the fully-integrated OpenBook Anywhere content for English as a second language (ESL) students and English language learners and over sixty hours of algebra and pre-algebra activities. The new features in Version 5.7 make it easier for teachers to use the 4,000 hours of curriculum and make it relevant to their students' needs.

There are a total of 8,600 learning activities in Classworks (www.curriculumadvantage.com) from dozens of favorite educational software programs and all of which are correlated with National Education Standards in math and language arts. Classworks State Editions are further aligned to the learning standards of 15 states so that teachers can more closely tie their teaching to the core concepts and competencies prescribed by their state. Classworks Import Editions are available for Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, and New York as well as an Alternet Import Edition for the state of Pennsylvania. Scantron Performance Series(TM) and Edusoft(R) data can also be seamlessly imported into Classworks.

Classworks is a recognized curriculum resource worthy of purchase using NCLB and IDEA funding sources. Classworks is also aligned with the five key components of reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, as defined by the National Institute for Literacy and the Partnership for Reading.

About Curriculum Advantage

Curriculum Advantage, Inc. (www.curriculumadvantage.com) has offices in Los Angeles; Austin, Texas; and Wayne, Neb. Curriculum Advantage's flagship product is Classworks, a network-based system of K-12 reading and mathematics curriculum and learning tools that currently comprise over 4,000 hours of curriculum. Classworks activities are correlated to national and state learning standards and state tests. They include prescriptive and summative assessment, remediation and reporting tools. Classworks is installed in 2,000 schools in the United States and worldwide. INET Classroom, also from Curriculum Advantage, is a comprehensive library of web-based curriculum linked to state and national standards.