Illinois State Board of Education Adds LeapFrog SchoolHouse Program to List; the Literacy Center Eligible for Reading First Funds

Second Recognition for LeapFrog SchoolHouse Programs in Illinois

LeapFrog SchoolHouse, the school division of LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: LF), a leading developer of innovative technology-based learning products, today announced that two editions of The Literacy Center were added to the list of programs qualifying for Reading First funds to be distributed by the Illinois State Board of Education. This is the second time the Illinois State Board of Education has recognized LeapFrog SchoolHouse products, having added 15 LeapPad^® book collections to the Textbook Loan Program in December 2000.

The Literacy Center is an interactive multisensory curriculum that provides teachers with a structured approach to teaching phonemic awareness, phonics and other early reading skills. The program addresses multiple learning modalities using sight, sound and touch to deliver systematic and explicit instruction based upon the "best practices" in current reading research. By providing multiple types of activities to address each skill, this program helps make sure no child is left behind.

LeapFrog SchoolHouse submitted the Kindergarten and Grade 1 editions of The Literacy Center to the state's Review Board. The purpose of the review process was to compile an informational tool for Illinois districts to utilize in applying for Reading First funds. To read the complete review, visit www.isbe.state.il.us/curriculum/Readfirst/Vendors.html and click on LeapFrog SchoolHouse under the supplemental programs section.

Reading First, a cornerstone of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, is designed to help every child become a successful reader. Nearly $3 billion will be distributed among the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and outlying areas over the next three years. In 2002, $900 million was dedicated to helping states and local school districts establish high-quality, comprehensive reading instruction for all kindergarten through third-grade students. Reading First grants will support proven, research-based programs and proposals that are based upon the evidence of how children learn to read.

"We are pleased to have been listed for the second time in Illinois," said Bob Lally, LeapFrog SchoolHouse president. "The Literacy Center is a scientifically research-based program for helping children to develop phonemic awareness and other early reading skills. Our programs incorporate critical assessment tools to track and monitor student progress, providing educators with the tools they need to inform instruction. By combining our innovative technology platforms with a systematic early reading curriculum, we have created a complete program that meets the rigorous standards of Reading First."

LeapFrog SchoolHouse, an award-winning developer of multisensory classroom solutions, sells its products in all 50 states and is actively seeking state adoptions for its language and assessment programs. To date, the company's learning materials have been adopted or listed in Texas, Nevada, California, Oklahoma, Illinois, New York City, Idaho and Utah, and have been endorsed by the National Even Start Association. The Literacy Center and other LeapFrog SchoolHouse products and programs meet the national guidelines for various grant opportunities offered under the No Child Left Behind Act, including the Reading First program.

To purchase LeapFrog SchoolHouse materials in Illinois and other states, call the Sales Service office toll-free at 800-883-7430.

About 'The Literacy Center'
The Literacy Center is a multisensory program that provides teachers with a structured approach to teaching phonemic awareness, phonics and other early reading skills. Designed to supplement existing programs, The Literacy Center uses sight, sound and touch to deliver a curriculum based upon the "best practices" in current reading research.

There are six editions of The Literacy Center: four grade-appropriate editions including Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Grade 1+, and Multi-Grade, along with two basal reading program editions: Open Court Grade K and Open Court Grade 1. The curriculum takes young learners from phonemic awareness to explicit instruction in phonics and into the wonderful world of reading. The program provides an entire year's worth of supplemental reading curriculum, with detailed lesson plans for whole-class, small-group, and individual instruction, plus parent letters, with family support activities, and portable technology to build the important school-home connection.

The Literacy Center incorporates three key technology components:

• The LeapPad^® platform, which allows books to talk via touch-interactive technology. Students can use the LeapPad platform to read specific words, sound out decodable words, or read entire pages.
• The LeapDesk™ workstation, which teaches letter names, letter sounds, and sight words through three modes-Learn, Assess, and Adapt.
• The LeapMat™ learning surface, which teaches letter-name recognition, letter-sound association, and spelling of three-letter words.

The Literacy Center has earned numerous awards from education industry organizations and the education media, and is used in thousands of elementary school classrooms, preschools and Head Start centers nationwide. The multisensory tools and technologies have been adopted or listed in California, Illinois, New York City, Oklahoma, Idaho, Nevada and Utah, and have been endorsed by the National Even Start Association.

About LeapFrog School
LeapFrog School publishes research-based assessment and curriculum content for the PreK–Grade 8 education market. Its interactive, multisensory curriculum programs and electronic learning aids are enhanced by LeapFrog's proprietary Personal Learning Tools (PLTs). The division's comprehensive instructional classroom programs enable teachers to personalize student instruction, instantly assess and monitor student progress relative to state and national standards, and easily integrate into classroom learning. LeapFrog School product areas currently include assessment, reading, language arts, math, English language development, and early literacy.

LeapFrog School's multisensory products currently reach students in more than 100,000 classrooms across the United States with over 200 interactive books and 500 skill cards, representing more than 6,500 pages of educational content. LeapFrog School is a business division within the Education & Training Group of LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. Please visit www.LeapFrogSchool.com for additional information.

About LeapFrog Enterprises
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: LF) is a leading designer, developer and marketer of innovative, technology-based learning products and related proprietary content, dedicated to making learning effective and engaging for all ages, at homes and in schools, around the world. The company was founded in 1995 and is based in Emeryville, California.

LEAPFROG SCHOOLHOUSE, the LeapFrog SchoolHouse logo, LEAPTRACK and LEAPPAD are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. Copyright © LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.