IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 16, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Scantron(r), a leading technology provider of software and survey solutions for the K-12 and higher education markets, today announced a fresh approach to classroom assessment through the linking of its Achievement Series(tm) and Performance Series(tm) solutions to prescriptive actions. In addition, Scantron is providing K-12 educators with the ability to use a familiar interface to input test items.
Tying Assessment Results to State-Aligned Materials
Through a partnership with Thinkronize Inc., developer of the award-winning netTrekker suite of safe educational search products, Scantron has integrated its Web-based assessment solutions with the netTrekker d.i. safe Internet search engine. As a result, educators using the Performance Series or Achievement Series solutions can now instantly access standards-based instructional resources matched to specific student learning needs at the individual, classroom and school levels. After each assessment is given, educators view the results for their students and then simply click an icon to view specific resources applicable to the needs of a particular student or the entire class.
"Our integration into Scantron's assessment program allows educators to close the achievement loop from assessment through prescription," said Christine Willig, president of Thinkronize. "Educators can more easily differentiate instruction by going directly from assessment to remediation content in netTrekker d.i. which helps every child learn to their fullest potential."
Designed to support individualized instruction, netTrekker d.i. provides educators with fast and easy access to more than 180,000 educator-selected online resources organized by readability level and aligned with state standards. With Performance Series and Achievement Series reports that connect assessment results directly to state-aligned materials using netTrekker d.i., Scantron's solutions provide educators with a clear and direct link from assessment and diagnosis to prescriptive action. In one solution, each step is aligned to state standards and differentiated for targeted student improvement.
"Differentiated instruction helps all students improve," said Sean Ryan, general manager of Scantron's K-12 business unit. "The combination of Achievement Series, Performance Series and netTrekker d.i. allows educators to target the student ability level or class ability level and deliver material to address students' specific learning needs. In addition, because the sites in the netTrekker d.i. resource pool are regularly reviewed and updated, educators can feel confident they're accessing the most up-to-date information."
Integrating Classroom Tests into a District Solution
The latest Scantron assessment solution release also delivers on a partnership with FSCreations Inc., the creators of the popular ExamView(r) test creation software. Through this partnership, educators can now directly publish ExamView tests and item banks to Scantron's content-neutral, flexible testing platform, Achievement Series. This allows teachers to easily integrate their classroom-level tests into a broader district-wide assessment solution, and have all their classroom tests and resulting reports available from one location within Achievement Series.
"We are pleased to announce our partnership with Scantron and the integration of ExamView with Achievement Series," said Jim Hopkins, vice president of marketing for FSCreations Inc. "Thousands of instructors use ExamView daily to save time, efficiently assess student knowledge and improve learning. The seamless pairing of the industry's premier teacher and district assessment solutions will enable K-12 educators to better measure student performance, identify student strengths and weaknesses, and guide instruction to improve student achievement in the classroom and across the district."
Educators can export ExamView test items to Achievement Series, align items to their state standards, develop benchmark tests or classroom quizzes, deliver the tests online or on paper, produce standards-based reports, and then tie the assessment results directly to state-aligned materials using netTrekker d.i.
"Combining Achievement Series, ExamView and netTrekker d.i. gives educators a powerful new solution to meet the needs of each student, while saving valuable instructional time," said Ryan. "This best-of-breed combination provides easy, immediate access to all the tools educators need to positively impact instruction for an individual, group of students, class, school or district."
About Scantron Corporation
Scantron Corp. (www.scantron.com) is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based John H. Harland Company (NYSE:JH). Scantron is a leading technology provider of software and survey solutions for the K-12 and higher education markets. For more information call 1-800-722-6876.
About Harland
Atlanta-based John H. Harland Company (NYSE:JH) (http://www.harland.net) is a leading provider of software and printed products to the financial and educational markets. Harland Financial Solutions Inc. (http://www.harlandfinancialsolutions.com), a wholly owned subsidiary, supplies software and services, including customer relationship management, deposit and loan origination, core systems and mortgage services to thousands of financial institutions of all sizes. Harland Printed Products' offerings include checks, direct marketing and financial forms. Scantron Corporation (http://www.scantron.com), a wholly owned subsidiary, is a leading provider of both paper and electronic-based services and systems for the collection, management and interpretation of data to the financial, commercial and educational markets.
This press release contains statements, which may constitute "forward-looking statements." These statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of John H. Harland Company and members of its respective management, as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Reference is made to the Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements in Harland's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed under the Securities Exchange Act.