Lightspan's Academic Systems to Host Faculty Meetings Nationwide.

Business Editors/High-Tech & Education Writers

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 2001

Continuous Improvement Series Builds on Company's Commitment to

Include Faculty Users in Creation and Enhancement of

Interactive Instructional Materials

Academic Systems, the higher education division of Lightspan, Inc. and leading provider of interactive, multimedia instructional programs for college students, today announced its extensive 2001 series of Continuous Improvement meetings to be held nationwide beginning this week.

The five upcoming Continuous Improvement meetings continue to build on Academic Systems' commitment to include faculty in the process of developing the best instructional materials available to meet the needs of students and faculty. Since the inception of Academic Systems in 1992, the company has sought to weave instructors deeply into the development and improvement of Interactive Mathematics and Interactive English -- its award-winning, multimedia instructional materials.

"Academics Systems has been and always will be known for its expertise in the development of pedagogically sound, effective content. One of the primary reasons for this is the involvement of our faculty partners across the country who contribute immensely to helping us define enhancements," said Jim Dredge, CEO of Academic Systems. "We look forward to this round of meetings and to hearing from the people who know best -- the ones using the materials day in and day out -- to continue to make Interactive Mathematics and Interactive English the best they can possibly be."

Industry leaders have lauded Academic Systems' commitment to regularly meeting with faculty and following up on faculty feedback with real product changes. In fact, a new book, The Problem Solving Journey, recognizes Academic Systems' continuous improvement process as an example of effective problem solving. Author Christopher Hoenig, chairman and CEO of Exolve, Inc., an Internet-enabling software company, discusses how Academic Systems has developed the most pedagogically sound instructional materials through the collaborative efforts of teams of professionals with the combined experience to know what would best help students learn and best aid faculty in teaching.

The company's efforts have included the bringing together of robust advisory boards and an ongoing commitment to the continuous improvement process that solicits and implements suggestions from those using the materials. Such faculty members, some of whom were initially resistant to the use of technology in teaching and learning, have been made part of the development process, resulting in an evolved, more effective solution, Hoenig says.

This year's meetings will be held in Washington, D.C., Orlando, Dallas, San Diego and Chicago, beginning this week and ending in April.

About Academic Systems

Academic Systems Corporation, the higher education division of Lightspan, Inc. (Nasdaq:LSPN), has focused on meeting the needs of higher education faculty and students since it was founded in 1992. The company's interactive, multimedia instructional programs, Interactive Mathematics and Interactive English, offer an enhanced learning environment for college students in developmental and entry-level courses. Created in concert with educators, Academic Systems' networked courses have demonstrated increases in learning and achievement; the programs are offered at more than 280 college campuses nationwide and have been used by more than 300,000 students. In addition, academic.com, Academic Systems' new Web-based product, offers a complete eLearning solution for online general education courses across many disciplines. For more information contact Academic Systems Corporation at 800/694-6850, or visit the Web site at www.academic.com.

Note to Editors: Interactive Mathematics, Interactive English and academic.com are trademarks of Academic Systems Corporation.

Statements in this press release that are not historical are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty, are predictions only and actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Such statements include projections about the prospects of Academic Systems and about the results that can be achieved through the use of Academic Systems' products. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences include market acceptance of Academic Systems' software and Internet products, competition from other educational software and services providers, management of growth, changes in the availability of funding for schools and technological advances and risks related thereto. These factors and others are more fully described from time to time in Lightspan's SEC reports, including the Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2000 and the Quarterly Reports Filed on Form 10-Q for the three months ended April 30, 2000, July 31, 2000 and October 31, 2000.