Michigan Virtual University, Apex Learning Partner to Develop Michigan Virtual AP Academy.

Business/High Tech Editors

LANSING, Mich. and BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 18, 2000

Michigan Virtual University (MVU) and Apex Learning Inc., a leading online learning service provider, announced today they are partnering to develop the Michigan Virtual Advanced Placement Academy.

Apex Learning will create a virtual AP academy as a component of the Michigan Virtual High School. The academy will provide access to all Apex Learning AP products and services, including:

-- a comprehensive selection of accredited online AP courses;

-- an award-winning online Exam Review;

-- technology platform for online delivery of course materials

and instruction;

-- online supplemental materials for use by teachers in the

traditional classroom;

-- online teacher training;

-- communication support to build awareness of the availability

and benefits of online learning and AP courses throughout the

state.

Through this partnership, Michigan students and teachers will have unlimited access to the online AP Exam Review and to online materials for the classroom. The agreement also provides more than 3,000 individual course scholarships over the next two years to be distributed by the Michigan Virtual University to both public and non-public school students. MVU's role will be to ensure wide availability throughout the state and to improve access to AP courses.

The Michigan Virtual University, corporate parent of the Michigan Virtual High School, was awarded a grant in June from the Michigan legislature to develop both the high school and AP academy. MVU selected Apex Learning as its first partner in removing barriers and increasing opportunity for thousands of Michigan students to take advanced placement courses.

"Educators are realizing the strength of the Internet in providing students equal access to educational opportunities," MVU President David Spencer said. "We needed to provide Michigan students with the very best online learning educational opportunities available and are pleased to partner with Apex Learning in building a new statewide model for education."

Apex Learning CEO Keith Oelrich praised the state of Michigan as an early leader in allocating funding to solve the educational access issue through online education. "Apex Learning has the breadth of resources necessary to develop a learning curriculum that can occur anytime, anyplace. We are proud to be aligned with forward-thinkers like the Michigan Virtual University, as we work together to create the Virtual AP Academy."

About Apex Learning

Apex Learning is a leading Online Learning Service Provider for the K-12 education system. Founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Apex Learning provides award-winning online educational content, technologies and services to states, school districts and other partners in the K-12 system. The company's online educational offerings are fully accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. Apex Learning is a privately-held company, with significant investments from Vulcan Ventures, Warburg Pincus, Edison Schools, Maveron, Kaplan and Michigan State University.

About Michigan Virtual University

MVU is a private, nonprofit corporation established by Gov. John Engler in 1998 and funded by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to provide high-quality, convenient and cost-effective education and training programs to Michigan's core industries. It does not grant degrees or certificates or teach courses, but acts as a broker of programs made available by Michigan's public and private colleges, universities and commercial training providers.