New Functionality for Blackboard Release 7 Allows Users to Work on Their Own Terms

WASHINGTON, DC, Apr 27, 2006 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB), a leading provider of technology to educational institutions, announced today the availability of Application Pack 1 for the Blackboard Academic Suite(TM) (Release 7). The Blackboard Academic Suite is used by millions of students and faculty members to provide access to educational materials and resources at any time and from any location. With Application Pack 1, Blackboard clients will gain greater flexibility and control of their e-Learning programs through a variety of new features.

Blackboard provides regular application packs for smaller, more manageable software updates implemented without a major upgrade.

Greater Flexibilty and Control

Application Pack 1 for the Blackboard Academic Suite(TM) (Release 7) includes the following enhancements:

--  Domain Management: Institutions can create distinct domains within the
    Blackboard Community System(TM) and administer them separately.
--  Flexible Roles and Privileges:  Administrators can create an unlimited
    number of new System Roles and then select from hundreds of privileges to
    assign to each role.
--  Updated Software Development Kit (SDK) for an Additional New Building
    Block: Application Pack 1 contains another first for Blackboard: a Beta API
    for Discussion Boards. Developers are invited to begin working with this
    interface immediately!
--  School Interoperability Framework (SIF) Agent: The Blackboard Learning
    System(TM) can now exchange and synchronize data in formats that are
    compliant with SIF, used extensively in K-12.

Enhanced Teaching and Learning Features

Application Pack 1 gives student and instructors powerful new capabilities to enhance learning and the classroom experience:

--  State-of-the-art Discussion Board: A new user interface enables better
    searching and collection, and has options for statistics, grading, peer
    rating, and moderating.
--  Improved Testing Options:  Improvements include enabling multiple
    attempts, new self-assessment options, export and importing of tests and
    surveys, and extra credit options.
--  New Language Packs:  Traditional Chinese is now available as a
    Language Pack.
--  Cross-Platform, Cross-Browser Visual Text Box Editor: Enables all
    users, across platforms, to enjoy the benefits of the Visual Text Box
    Editor on Macintosh and Firefox platforms.

Kettering University has been testing Application Pack 1 in a production environment. Donna Wicks, System Administrator at Kettering offered this about the new functionality, "With Application Pack 1, I can share control of the Blackboard system with administrators and users all over campus. This Application Pack provides tremendous flexibility and control over the Blackboard system, enabling it to match how the university actually operates. It frees up my time, while empowering others on campus to do what they need to get their jobs done."

Application Pack 1 is now available for download from the Behind the Blackboard's Download Center. Visit http://behind.blackboard.com for more information.

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 27, 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 27, 2006.

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

SOURCE: Blackboard Inc.