Spanning the Globe With Blackboard -- Leading Schools, Universities and Government Agencies Extend Education With Blackboard

SAN DIEGO, CA, Mar 02, 2006 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Bb World 2006 -- Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB), a leading provider of technology to educational institutions and corporate and government agencies, is being recognized as a central tool for teaching, learning and training for many academic institutions in the United States and abroad. Blackboard is currently hosting its 8th annual users conference, Bb World 2006, where leaders from academic institutions around the world are gathered. The following international clients have recently licensed the Blackboard Learning System(TM), enabling access to education materials from any location and at any time, including:

--  Menntasvio Reykjavikur -- a provider of K-12 education to one third of
    the population in Iceland,
--  Instituto Politecnico Nacional (IPN), one of Mexico's public
    universities focusing on engineering degrees,
--  Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom,
--  UN FAO Chile, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
    Nations of Chile,
--  Istanbul Bilgi University in Turkey,
--  Feng Chia University.

U.S. Universities Expand Education Overseas

In addition to the above-mentioned international clients, Blackboard solutions are also used by many universities and schools in the United States to foster teaching and learning opportunities abroad.

At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, American troops on active duty can continue their education by accessing courses and participating in class discussions through the Blackboard Academic Suite(TM), a suite of three software applications that enable Web-based and Web-enhanced learning.

"Embry-Riddle is excited to be able to provide our students around the world with anytime and anywhere access to Blackboard," said Becky Vasquez, Director IT Services, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. "By providing our students with this technology, location becomes irrelevant and education remains a focus. We are very proud of our dedicated students and their commitment to learning. We look forward to offering additional student-focused opportunities and innovations for our institution through our use of Blackboard."

At Arcadia University, one of the top private institutions of higher learning on the East Coast, the Blackboard Academic Suite is used by freshmen who participate in the school's innovative and award-winning First Year Study Abroad Experience. The 50 students who travel to London and Scotland each fall use MyArcadia, the Blackboard campus portal extensively to access course materials, campus resources, and professors, and they use it to stay connected to what's happening at Arcadia's campus in Glenside, Pa. The students in Scotland take an online course using Blackboard software, taught by the faculty in London.

"Even though they spend their first college semester overseas, these freshmen are already integrated into the fabric of the stateside campus when they arrive in January, thanks to the virtual connections they have been making through MyArcadia. They've been using our library while they were overseas, seeing campus announcements and photos, e-mailing friends, and accessing services," says Param Bedi, CIO and Associate Vice President for Technology.

"It's very exciting to see clients both domestically and internationally embracing our technology to provide greater educational opportunities," said Michael Chasen, CEO and President of Blackboard. "There has certainly been a great deal of discussion and attention lately on the importance of including an international focus on education. We are enthusiastic about how technology, such as Blackboard, can drive this focus."

Blackboard software applications are used by more than 2,200 academic institutions and corporate and government agencies in the United States and abroad, enabling millions of people to access educational materials and resources at any time and from any location.

About Blackboard

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 and Asia.

Blackboard
Educate. Innovate. Everywhere.

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 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 15, 2006 with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of March 2, 2006. 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 March 2, 2006.

Blackboard Public Relations Manager:
Melissa Chotiner
Blackboard Inc.
202-463-4860 ext. 2404
Contact via http://www.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=47CB034BE2AD387D
Media Contact:
Dan Baum
DBC Public Relations Experts
202-298-7600 ext. 205
Contact via http://www.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=7B878F8A34D98D83

SOURCE: Blackboard Inc.