Press Releases

Scantron^® Partners with WestEd to Provide Professional Development Solution for Assessment Products

IRVINE, Calif. (March 29, 2006) - Scantron a leading provider of formative and diagnostic assessment solutions for K-12 education, has entered into a partnership with WestEd, an education research and service provider, to offer WestEd's Local Accountability Professional Development Series (LAPDS) as a supplemental module to Scantron's Achievement Series™ system.

An award-winning Web-based assessment and reporting solution, Achievement Series allows educators to develop and administer tests both online and on paper, capture results, and produce standards-based reports. With timely and accurate assessment data, educators are able to measure growth, inform instruction, and prepare students for district and state-level high-stakes tests.

According to Tim Loomer, president of Scantron's Testing and Assessment division, WestEd's LAPDS will help Scantron customers create district-wide accountability systems that leverage the robust data provided by Achievement Series to maximize student learning.

"Combined with our own training services, the LAPDS will provide administrators, principals and classroom teachers with the skills, tools and strategies to transform data into actions that improve instruction," he said. "It will significantly increase districts' usage and ROI from Achievement Series."

Through a series of workshops, planning meetings, and coaching sessions, LAPDS helps administrators create and implement research-based assessment and accountability systems. Educators can then design a custom curriculum that quickly and effectively boosts performance and ensures that students meet state and federal requirements. Follow-up sessions help administrators and instructional coaches monitor student performance, thereby ensuring continuous improvement.

"WestEd is pleased that a company of Scantron's quality and reputation has selected LAPDS as its professional development program partner," said Glen Harvey, WestEd's chief executive officer. Ruth Ann McKenna, LAPDS project director for WestEd, said, "Providing feedback is the most powerful single modification that enhances achievement. Our professional development combined with Scantron's technology solutions will build quality No Child Left Behind (NCLB) accountability systems nationwide by providing teachers with the right tools to accelerate student learning on a daily basis."

About WestEd

WestEd, a national nonprofit research, development, and service agency, works with education and other communities to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth, and adults. WestEd has 15 offices nationwide, with corporate headquarters in San Francisco. More information about WestEd is available at WestEd.org.

About Scantron Corporation

Scantron Corporation (www.scantron.com), headquartered in Irvine, Calif., helps education and commercial organizations measure and improve effectiveness with assessment and survey solutions. Scantron provides tools for the rapid, accurate and reliable capture of data with innovative software and survey solutions that leverage the company's expertise in world-class forms printing and scanner manufacturing. Scantron is a subsidiary of Harland Clarke Holdings Corp., which is wholly owned by M&F Worldwide Corp. (NYSE: MFW).

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For More Information: JP Clark | 949-639-7640 | jp_clark@scantron.com