Colorado Technical University, Career Education Corporation, Licenses the Blackboard Academic Suite(TM) for School Consortium Program

WASHINGTON, DC, Apr 05, 2006 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Colorado Technical University (CTU), a division of Career Education Corporation (NASDAQ: CECO), has extended its relationship with Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB) through a multi-year license. Under the new agreement, all five of the CTU campuses (in addition to McIntosh College in Dover, NH, and the International Academy of Design and Technology in Orlando, FL) will standardize on the Blackboard Academic Suite(TM), a suite of three integrated software solutions which enable anywhere, anytime access to education. Colorado Technical University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, will centrally host the Blackboard(R) platform for an estimated 7,000 students and offer 20 degree programs that contain either hybrid or online courses with Blackboard technology.

Colorado Technical University will also roll out an executive MBA program using Blackboard solutions this year, as well as a masters program in e-Learning and instructional technology for teachers and trainers.

"We started using Blackboard software in 2001, and the demand for access to our educational programs grew dramatically," said Vicki Strunk, President of CTU, Sioux Falls. "With the incredible growth and success of our program, we are very excited to expand our offerings and unveil our new executive MBA program, which relies on Blackboard's technology and enables students to continue career development through short residencies, rather than weekly courses at the campus."

All CTU courses are offered in the Blackboard application. The hybrid courses offer the convenience of online access coupled with the rich interactive learning environment of in-classroom courses. Purely online courses take advantage of both synchronous and asynchronous access and learning. CTU Sioux Falls students have Gateway(TM) Tablet PCs and Tegrity(TM) software, which interface well with Blackboard. Recently, CTU Sioux Falls started podcasting lectures. Blackboard brings all this technology together in a way that creates a rich learning environment for their students.

"We applaud the efforts and accomplishments of Colorado Technical University as they continue to pave the way in how technology can truly enhance teaching and learning," said Michael Chasen, president and CEO of Blackboard. "It's exciting to see CTU implement our software solutions to provide greater opportunities for students around the world."

Blackboard solutions are used by more than 3,700 schools, colleges, universities and corporate and government agencies in the United States and abroad to enhance the education experience.

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 April 5, 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 April 5, 2006.

Contact:
Melissa Chotiner
Senior Manager
Public Relations
Blackboard Inc.
+1 202 463-4860 ext. 2404

SOURCE: Blackboard Inc.