FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lisa Rosenthal, GreatSchools
415-977-0700, ext. 123

SAN FRANCISCO, August 20, 2004-As the back-to-school deadline for school choice options approaches, a new feature on www.greatschools.net displays the federal No Child Left Behind status of schools throughout the country, and makes it easy for parents to learn about their school choice options.

The No Child Left Behind status can be found on school profiles on GreatSchools.net. Parent users of the site can easily find their school and learn whether the school has been designated "in need of improvement." They can link to nearby school choice and supplemental service options, and learn what the law means for their child. "Parents need to do their part to be informed about their rights and responsibilities under No Child Left Behind," said GreatSchools.net President and CEO Bill Jackson. "GreatSchools.net is their one-stop shop for finding all the information they need to make smart choices for their children's education."

Under the No Child Left Behind law, parents have the right to transfer their child to another school if the school their child attends receives federal Title I funds and has been designated "in need of improvement." Parents can also choose to access free tutoring or other supplemental educational services if their school has been designated "in need of improvement" for two or more years.

An independent nonprofit organization, GreatSchools.net provides comprehensive school profiles and practical advice about how to navigate the K-12 school system.

In addition to the No Child Left Behind information, GreatSchools.net features comprehensive School Profiles that offer information about student achievement, teacher qualifications, demographics, and parent ratings and reviews of schools.

Enhanced School Profiles, another unique feature, allow principals to augment state-provided data with information about their school's curriculum and special programs. The Parent Resource Center provides parents with a library of over 100 articles that include tips on such subjects as bullying and school nutrition, as well as reading and learning activities.

Funding for the display of No Child Left Behind data was provided in part by a grant from the United States Department of Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement. Major funding for GreatSchools.net is provided by Washington Mutual, the Pisces Foundation, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

The No Child Left Behind information is currently available for schools in 31 states on GreatSchools.net. Additional information will be added as it becomes available from state Departments of Education.

An independent nonprofit organization, GreatSchools.net is the nation's most visited Web site for K-12 school information. GreatSchools.net provides parents with the information they need to choose, support and improve schools. With more than 9 million users, GreatSchools.net reaches a large, nationwide audience. Media distribution partners include America Online, MSN, Yahoo and Knight Ridder Digital. Funding is provided by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Pisces Foundation and Washington Mutual.