Blackboard Launches 2007 Expanded Greenhouse Program to Foster Educational Innovation

WASHINGTON, DC, Nov 06, 2006 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB) announces the expansion of the annual Blackboard Greenhouse Program(TM), as the call for proposals opens today for more than 3,600 clients across the Blackboard(R) community. The program, now in its third year, features three separate initiatives that cultivate innovations in education and technology, and support the organic growth of knowledge within the Blackboard community.

The program includes:

--  The Greenhouse Grant(TM)
--  The Greenhouse Exemplary Course Program(TM)
--  The Greenhouse Campus Services Award(TM)

A sum over $100,000 in cash and other awards will be given to the winners of all three contests.

"Blackboard is privileged to work with a very broad, and deep educational community of practice," said Matthew Pittinsky, Blackboard Chairman and co-founder. "The Blackboard Greenhouse Program offers a unique opportunity for the community to enhance the intersection of technology and education, whether that innovation is in a classroom, on a campus or across the broader educational landscape."

The Greenhouse Grant is designed to help build a collective body of knowledge and reward clients who have successfully developed and deployed initiatives promoting best practices in the adoption of Internet technology to solve institutional challenges. The completely revamped Greenhouse Exemplary Course Program is designed to help faculty members make the best use of e-Learning technology to develop technologically rich and pedagogically sound courses. The Greenhouse Campus Services Awards (formerly called the Blackboard Campus Services Pioneer Awards) are designed to recognize and reward members of the Blackboard community who show innovative use of the Blackboard Commerce Suite(TM).

Entries for all three programs are reviewed and judged by a team of academic leaders from campuses around the world. Last year's winning submissions are currently available on the Blackboard Connections(TM) site at http://connections.blackboard.com/.

The deadline for Greenhouse Exemplary Course Program submissions is February 5, 2007; the deadline for both the Greenhouse Grant and Greenhouse Campus Services Award is February 16, 2007. Winners will be announced at BbWorld '07(TM). For more information on the contest and how to enter, please visit www.blackboard.com/greenhouse.

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. Millions of people use Blackboard everyday 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 August 9, 2006 with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of November 6, 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 November 6, 2006.

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

Media Contact, Fleishman-Hillard:
Amy Storey
Fleishman-Hillard Inc.
+1 202 828-8819

SOURCE: Blackboard Inc.