To: TimbaBear who wrote (420 ) 6/6/1998 1:58:00 PM From: Thomas Kirwin Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 601
Teaching Kids The Basics - On Computers There is another interesting article in the June, 8th issue of Investor's Business Daily on page A4 under The New America section regarding Advantage Learning (ALSI). Apparently they develop and sell educational software in reading as well as math. Here is a snip of the article that caught my attention: "Typically, each client represents a continual revenue stream, Peterson says. For instance, a school may buy a kit containing the Accelerated Reader testing engine and tests for books in its library. Then, it may buy additional tests for other books. In '96, 80% of revenue came from existing customers." If only TASA could mimic Advantage Learning Systems Inc. growth! Other excerpts or highlights: "In April, it rolled out a Windows version of Accelerated Reader. More than 200 schools have already ordered the product." "Its software is now used in 35,500 of the 127,000 kindergarten to 12th-grade schools in the U.S. and Canada. That's up from 33,000 in '97" ****Wow, look at their school penetration or market growth.**** "Baum expects the company to have contracts with 39,900 schools by year end" "More than ever, schools are clamoring for technology. The U.S. market for curriculum software is expected to reach $1.1 billion by 2000, up from $630 million in '96. Most teachers are too overworked to evaluate on an individual basis. That's where Advantage Learning fits in. Its products help educators determine each student's educational level and pinpoint the appropriate course of study quickly and consistently." "Our goal is to give immediate, individualized, continuos feedback on performance to kids and teachers," Baum said. "Accelerated Reader is the top-selling reading-comprehension program. It was in 33,000 U.S. schools at the end of 1997. Its two closest rivals are much smaller. Electronic Bookshelf Inc.'s self-titled software is installed in about 12,000 schools. Educator's Computer Software's BookSharp program is installed in 600, mostly South Carolina." Here is a link to Advantage Learning System's Yahoo! information...quote.yahoo.com Regards, Tom