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Pilot Program for Kurzweil 3000-firefly in Jordanian Schools

Dallas, TX (USA), October 2014 - Kurzweil Education™, a division of Cambium Learning® Group, Inc., has announced that Sensotec nv/sa, Kurzweil Education's development and localization partner based in Belgium, and the Jordan Education Initiative (JEI), one of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah's not-for-profit organizations in Amman, Jordan, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to pilot Kurzweil 3000®-firefly® in four schools.

The one-year pilot program will provide the Jordanian schools with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the use of Kurzweil software for the purpose of enhancing students' English skills. The pilot, while preserving the integrity of educational programs and curricula, will also give students an opportunity to gain experience in, and an appreciation of, educational software.

The pilot schools will be chosen based on multiple criteria, such as their ability to support the technical requirements of Kurzweil 3000–firefly. During the year that each school will use Kurzweil 3000–firefly, qualitative and quantitative data will be compiled to provide a results-based evaluation to serve as a proof of concept. Implementation of Kurzweil 3000–firefly will begin in October 2014 and will include comprehensive product training.

"At JEI, we endeavor to accelerate education reform through programs and products that innovate and add value to Jordanian students," commented Mrs. Nermine Nubulsi, CEO of JEI. "Helping our students succeed with reading and writing in English through the innovative use of technology is of paramount importance to compete in an increasingly global economy. We believe Kurzweil 3000–firefly will accomplish this and anticipate a successful pilot program."

"As the world becomes smaller through information-communication technology, it's vital that we forge strong partnerships to increase learning across the globe," said Richard Flower, director of international sales at Kurzweil Education. "We are pleased to be working with Sensotec and JEI and look forward to a long-term relationship that will allow students in Jordan to achieve success in the new economy."

Kurzweil 3000–firefly is an award-winning reading, writing, and study-skills software platform that enables struggling students—including English language learners and those with learning differences such as dyslexia—to read, understand, and demonstrate their knowledge. When people hear what they are reading, use dictionaries that talk, and tackle the challenges of writing using tools to help organize their thinking and ideas, they can build and demonstrate what they know. With this combination of access and support, learners can make real academic progress. Kurzweil 3000–firefly helps learners meet rigorous standards and transforms struggle into success. Anchored in the principles of Universal Design for Learning, Kurzweil 3000–firefly is an easy, proven solution that ensures instruction and learning become personal—and meaningful progress becomes possible.