Acquisition

Pearson PLC
31 May 2006


31 May 2006


PEARSON TO ACQUIRE CHANCERY SOFTWARE LTD


Pearson, the world's leading education company, today announced the acquisition
of Chancery Software Ltd., a leading provider of student information systems
(SIS) in the K-12 US school market.


Over the past 20 years, Chancery has built a range of software tools to help
schools and districts collect and manage student information such as
enrollments, scheduling, attendance, grading, and student performance. Chancery
is the second largest SIS company in the US market with an installed base of
6,000 schools and recognized capabilities in building, installing and supporting
customized systems for large school districts.


Pearson is the market leader in the enterprise and student information systems
business with an installed based of more than 16,000 schools. It provides SIS
solutions for K-12 school districts combining student information, assessment,
reporting, and business solutions to fulfill the accountability requirements set
by No Child Left Behind through its SASI school server-based product and its
Centerpoint web-based offering. These products lead the SIS market for small-
and mid-sized school districts.


Last week Pearson also announced the acquisition of PowerSchool, the third
largest school SIS provider, from Apple. Chancery and PowerSchool will be
integrated into a single company, Pearson School Systems, operating under the
leadership of Mary McCaffrey.


Steven Dowling, president of Pearson's School Companies, said:


"Student information is central to our goal of helping schools raise student
achievement through personalized learning. The acquisitions of PowerSchool and
Chancery transform our SIS business, doubling its size and enabling us to offer
the pre-eminent software solutions for all levels of schools and districts
(small, medium, and large). All three businesses have a long and successful
history of investment and innovation, and together we will continue to develop
new services to help schools achieve their goals."


"The large districts that Chancery supports require a very high level of
customization and support as they build and install their systems. Chancery has
a great deal of experience and talent in this area and will bring a lot to
Pearson."


About Pearson Education
Educating 100 million people worldwide, Pearson Education is the global leader
in educational publishing, providing scientifically research-based print and
digital programs to help students of all ages learn at their own pace, in their
own way. Virtually all students and teachers in America learn from a Pearson
program at some point in their educational career. In the U.S., nearly 25,000
schools use Pearson technology to help instruct K-12 students and manage how
they are doing. Pearson Education is a business of Pearson, the international
media company (LSE: PSON; NYSE: PSO).


About Chancery Software
Chancery Software ( www.chancery.com) is one of the leading providers of Student
Information Systems for K-12 schools, districts, classrooms, and homes. Chancery
solutions offer accurate real-time information on more than thirteen million
students to one million educators every day. Built to address the challenges
faced by today's districts, Chancery Student Management Solutions are uniquely
aligned to meet the accountability and reporting requirements of the No Child
Left Behind Act. With over 20 years of industry firsts and implementations,
Chancery's customized SIS solutions meet the needs and budgets of diverse
schools and districts throughout North America.


Ends


For more information:


Pearson

Simon Mays-Smith/ Deborah Lincoln: [phone]

Wendy Spiegel: [phone]






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