Harcourt Assessment Launches PsychCorp's Second Edition of Differential Ability Scales(R).

DAS-II Provides in-Depth Analysis of Strengths and Weaknesses Critical to Effective Intervention

SAN ANTONIO -- Leading test developer and publisher Harcourt Assessment today announced the publication of the Differential Ability Scales, Second Edition (DAS-II) under its PsychCorp[TM] brand. The DAS-II is an individually administered, clinical instrument for assessing the cognitive abilities that are important to learning. DAS-II builds upon the strong cognitive foundations of its predecessor with additional subtests and features.

"The second edition of the DAS takes an already outstanding tool to the next level," said Harcourt Assessment International President and Publisher Aurelio Prifitera. "Existing users of the Differential Ability Scales will find that the DAS-II continues to provide the valid and reliable results found in the original product with a host of new features to provide a faster, more comprehensive, yet efficient assessment."

Beyond the features of the original DAS, the new edition translates cognitive development and cognitive process research findings into easily administered and interpreted subtests. The DAS-II has 20 cognitive subtests, including 17 subtests from the original DAS.

"DAS-II retains the best elements of DAS while incorporating a number of improvements," said author Colin D. Elliott. "It has considerable variety for children and great efficiency for examiners, so that the children they assess will stay engaged and motivated. It also allows examiners the option to stop testing at different decision points -- thus reducing the failure rate and minimizing administration time."

The new edition contains new features to make administration easier and evaluation more comprehensive, including:

* Updated normative sample representative of the general U.S. population

* Four new subtests -- Recall of Sequential Order, Rapid Naming, Phonological Processing and Recall of Digits-Backward

* A set of items for young children, ages 3:6-17:11 in the Matrices subtest

* Expanded clinical samples including children with a variety of special classifications: developmental risk; reading, writing, and math learning disabilities; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders; specific language impairment; limited English proficiency; mild to moderate mental retardation; and gifted and talented

* More engaging and contemporary artwork

* Enhanced user-friendly administration and scoring procedures

* American Sign Language and Spanish language translation of directions for the nonverbal subtests

* A CD with examiner instructions to assist with administration of the phonological processing subtest, and signed nonverbal subtest administration directions

* The inclusion of a variety of easy and difficult items to provide the opportunity for success and engagement at all levels; practically all children will find success and appropriate challenge on some items.

DAS-II is authored by Dr. Colin D. Elliott. Dr. Elliott was for 20 years the tutor and director of the course for professional educational psychologists at Manchester University (UK). Since 1973, he has been involved in research and development on the British Ability Scales, the Differential Ability Scales (the U.S. version of the BAS), BAS 2 and now DAS-II. His other research and publications have focused on individual differences in children's temperament and personality and specific learning difficulties. Dr. Elliott is a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) and British Psychological Society. He is also an active member of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

For more information on DAS-II, please visit http://www.DAS-II.com.

About Harcourt Assessment, Inc.

Based in San Antonio, Harcourt Assessment, Inc. is a leading provider of high-quality assessment instruments and testing programs published under two brand names -- Harcourt Assessment and PsychCorp[TM]. For more than 85 years, Harcourt Assessment has been providing insight about children and adults; informing instruction, curricula, and clinical practice; collaborating with educators and clinical professionals; assisting human resources, admissions and credential professionals; and creating assessment innovations, in order to provide the most effective assessment solutions for the success of all individuals.

The company is a unit of Harcourt Education, a global education provider serving students and teachers in PreK through grade 12, adult learners, and readers of all ages. Harcourt Education is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc. (www.reedelsevier.com), a world-leading publisher and information provider. It is owned equally by Reed Elsevier PLC (NYSE: RUK) and Reed Elsevier NV (NYSE: ENL).