WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis., April 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Renaissance Learning(R), Inc., , a leading provider of learning information systems and school improvement programs for pre-K-12 schools, today announced a partnership with Sagebrush Corporation, which will further strengthen the distribution of its reading products. Sagebrush, a leader in providing technology, services, and educational resources to K-12 schools will distribute Renaissance Learning's reading solutions, including Accelerated Reader, STAR Reading, STAR Early Literacy, Fluent Reader, and Read Now. Renaissance reading solutions have been adopted in more than 63,000 schools.

(LOGO: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001108/RENAISSANCELOGO )

"We are excited about this renewed partnership with a company so highly regarded by K-12 educators, librarians, and administrators," said John Hickey, chief executive officer and president of Renaissance Learning. "Partnering with Sagebrush further positions Renaissance Learning as an industry leader, now having relationships with all the major tradebook resellers in the K-12 market."

Renaissance Learning's reading solutions are available with a centralized web-accessible database called Renaissance Place, which offers schools and districts access to all student data anytime, from any web-enabled computer. Renaissance Place offers reports providing information to parents and educators on daily individual student progress and formative feedback, and schools and districts are now able to make data-driven decisions based on comprehensive information.

"Sagebrush is pleased to offer our more than 40,000 customers the new Renaissance Place versions of Renaissance reading solutions as a complement to our comprehensive education resources and award-winning educational information management technologies," said Jim Zicarelli, chief executive officer of Sagebrush. "The addition of the market leading Accelerated Reader and several other Renaissance reading products further strengthens our portfolio of education resource products. We have aligned with Renaissance Learning to continue to provide the quality tools to help educators produce the best possible learning outcomes in students."

Sagebrush Corporation

Sagebrush Corporation is a fast-growing leader serving K-12 schools in their efforts to improve performance by providing students access to relevant information, stimulate interest in reading and manage information across the education process. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Sagebrush features the award-winning Sagebrush Accent(TM), Sagebrush Athena(TM), and Sagebrush Spectrum(TM) library automation systems, the smart research tool Sagebrush Pinpoint(TM) and Sagebrush Analytics(TM) for informed, data-driven decision- making. Sagebrush Education Resources(TM) provides an ever-increasing title selection, instant online collection analysis, and time saving tools through the online bookstore, http://www.sagebrushbooks.com/ . Sagebrush also features top-rated customer support, a wide range of training options and complete data enhancement services. Visit http://www.sagebrushcorp.com/ or call 1-800-533-5430.

Renaissance Learning, Inc.

Renaissance Learning, Inc. is a leading provider of research-based information systems software, school improvement programs, teacher training and consulting. Adopted by more than 67,000 schools, Renaissance Learning information technology products give students and teachers continuous constructive feedback that helps motivate students, dramatically accelerate learning, improve test scores, and help students master all standards, while reducing teacher paperwork. Renaissance Learning has five U.S. locations and subsidiaries in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom.

This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the Company's growth prospects. Any such forward-looking statements may involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results encompassed within the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks affecting the Company's business as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K and later filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. The Company expressly disclaims a duty to provide updates to forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or other occurrences.

CONTACT: Julie Blystone of Renaissance Learning, Inc., +1-800-200-4848,
fax, +1-608-664-3882, or email, jdblysto@renlearn.com

Web site: http://www.renlearn.com/
http://www.sagebrushbooks.com/
http://www.sagebrushcorp.com/