Blackboard Expands Its K-12 Community

Schools and Districts Turn to Blackboard to Foster 21st Century LearningATLANTA, GA, Jun 25, 2007 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) 2007-- Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB), a leading provider of enterprise technology to the education industry, today announced more than 50 clients from K-12 schools across the country recently upgraded or newly licensed Blackboard(R) solutions to facilitate e-Learning communities, deliver high quality content and build organizational capabilities.

New additions as well as schools/districts which have expanded their Blackboard implementations represent a diverse cross-section of schools, including individual private institutions, large suburban districts and virtual schools, among others. Following is a sampling:

Districts

--  Arlington Public Schools (VA)
--  Blendedschools.net
--  Clay County School District (FL)
--  Clark County School District (NV)
--  Clear Creek Independent School District (TX)
--  Hurst Euless Bedford Independent School (TX)

Individual Schools

--  Center for the Visually Impaired (GA)
--  Holton Arms School (MD)
--  La Jolla Country Day School (CA)
--  North Carolina Virtual Public School
--  Virtual High School (MA)

North Carolina Virtual Public School, a new state-funded online school that just opened this month, relies on a fully hosted implementation of the Blackboard Academic Suite to provide advanced placement classes, summer school and credit recovery programs for students across the state. Less than two weeks since it opened, North Carolina Virtual Public School is already providing online education to more than 6,000 students.

"We are pleased to welcome new schools and districts to our K-12 community and equally as excited to expand our partnerships with existing clients who are increasing their use and adoption of Blackboard's e-Learning technologies," said Jessie Woolley-Wilson, Blackboard president, K-12. "As the preeminent provider of engaging online learning technologies, Blackboard strives to reshape outcomes and expand future educational possibilities for 21st century learners of all ages."

Earlier this year Blackboard released Application Pack 2 for the Blackboard Academic Suite(TM) (Release 7) featuring major new functionality to encourage student success and increase engagement. Geared towards the K-12 educator, the technology features new tools such as a performance-based early warning system, new methods for independent student feedback, and e-portfolio customization options, to foster enhanced student achievement and engagement and connecting parents to the process.

Arlington Public Schools recently expanded their Blackboard implementation moving from a basic version of the Blackboard Learning System to a fully hosted implementation of the Blackboard Academic Suite(TM). The district will be launching a new professional development initiative this year, using the Blackboard Content System(TM) to provide ePortfolios for teachers across the system.

About Blackboard Inc.

Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB) is a leading provider of enterprise software applications and related services to the education industry. Founded in 1997, Blackboard enables educational innovations everywhere by connecting people and technology. With two product suites, the Blackboard Academic Suite (TM) and the Blackboard Commerce Suite (TM), Blackboard is used by millions of people at academic institutions around the globe, including colleges, universities, K-12 schools and other education providers, as well as textbook publishers and student-focused merchants that serve education providers and their students. Blackboard is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

Blackboard

Educate. Innovate. Everywhere.(TM)

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Blackboard and other statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our Form 10-Q filed on May 4, 2007 with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of June 25, 2007. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company's views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to June 25, 2007.

Senior Manager Public Relations at Blackboard:
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Blackboard Inc.
202-463-4860 ext. 2404
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SOURCE: Blackboard Inc.