Houghton Mifflin Co. News Release - April 22, 2009

Five Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Customers Named Finalists for the 2009 Broad Prize for Urban Education

Prestigious award recognizes high-achieving urban school districts nationwide

BOSTON — April 22, 2009 — Global education leader Houghton Mifflin Harcourt proudly congratulates five of its customers who were recently named finalists for the prestigious 2009 Broad Prize for Urban Education: Aldine Independent School District in Texas, Broward County Public Schools in Florida, Gwinnett County Public Schools in Georgia, Long Beach Unified School District in California and Socorro Independent School District in Texas.

Established in 2002 by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, The Broad Prize annually awards $2 million in scholarships to urban school districts that demonstrate the greatest overall performance while reducing achievement gaps among low-income and minority students.

Chosen for their significant gains in student achievement, each of the five districts have demonstrated the following successes:

• Aldine Independent School District narrowed achievement gaps for both African-American and Hispanic students in elementary and middle school math and in reading for all school levels. The district's participation rates for African-American and Hispanic students taking the SAT and Advanced Placement increased between 2005 and 2008.
• Broward County Public Schools narrowed achievement gaps for African-American and low-income students in math at all levels and reading at the middle school level. The district's participation rates and scores for African-American students taking the SAT increased between 2005 and 2008.
• Gwinnett County Public Schools narrowed achievement gaps for both African-American and Hispanic students in math and reading in elementary and middle school. The district's participation rates for African-American and Hispanic students taking the SAT, ACT and AP exams increased and the average ACT score rose for Hispanic students from 2005 to 2008.
• Long Beach Unified School District narrowed achievement gaps for Hispanic students in math at all levels and in middle and high school reading. The district's participation rates and scores for Hispanic students taking the SAT increased between 2005 and 2008.
• Socorro Independent School District was more successful than the state at increasing the percentage of students, including low-income and Hispanic students, that achieved proficiency in math and reading at all elementary, middle and high school levels. The district also narrowed achievement gaps for low-income students in math and reading at all school levels between 2005 and 2008.

"It comes as no surprise to us that all five finalists are Houghton Mifflin Harcourt customers, and we join the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation in recognizing the difference these districts have made in the education of low-income and minority students," said K–12 President Mike Lavelle, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. "We continue to invest in product innovation and to expand our portfolio of offerings so that we can meet our customers' diverse needs and, most importantly, ensure a bright future for all learners."

For more information about The Broad Prize, visit www.broadprize.org. The winning school district will be announced on September 16, 2009, in Washington, D.C.

About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company is a global education leader and the world's largest publisher of educational materials for pre-K–12 schools. The Company publishes a comprehensive set of best-in-class educational solutions, ranging from research-based textbook programs to instructional technology to standards-based assessments for students and educators. The Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning literature for adults and young readers. With origins dating back to 1832, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt combines its tradition of excellence with a commitment to innovation. To learn more about Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, visit www.hmhpub.com.