Microsoft Helps Schools Address Student Achievement With Release of Microsoft Class Server 4.0

Microsoft Helps Schools Address Student Achievement With Release of Microsoft Class Server 4.0

New SharePoint Web Parts and .NET Interface Deliver Browser-Based Access in Learning Gateway Solution

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today at the Florida Education Technology Conference, Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) announced Microsoft(R) Class Server 4.0, the newest release of the company's premier learning management platform for grades K-12. By helping teachers create, deliver and grade standards-aligned assessments and lessons over the Web, Class Server allows K-12 school districts and their teachers to easily track, analyze and improve student achievement against local curriculum standards in accordance with requirements of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001.

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"Class Server 4.0 will provide our school community with a one-stop solution, bringing locally developed resources and commercially available resources together to enhance our focus on meeting the needs of each of our students using the best of technology for communication and learning," said Belinda Moss, instructional technology coordinator for Williamson County Schools.

Expanding on the success of previous versions, Class Server 4.0 now enables schools and their IT administrators to work with education solution providers to programmatically create, grade and distribute learning resources with exceptional flexibility. Teachers and students no longer have to access data and assignments by opening multiple applications; they can access all their learning tools through a single sign-on Learning Gateway portal solution, a technology framework that delivers information from multiple systems through the same user interface.

"The number of applications educators are using in their day-to-day activities continues to increase as schools strive to meet reporting goals and improve student achievement," said Anthony Salcito, general manager of Education for the U.S. Public Sector at Microsoft. "As a result of listening to the needs of both educators and their IT administrators, we've developed Class Server 4.0 to serve as a single interface that can help remove barriers to instructional technology tools."

Offering students and teachers access to applications via the Internet, Class Server 4.0 includes 12 Web Parts that allow information to be shared with existing applications through SharePoint(R) 2.0 in a Learning Gateway solution. Schools can easily manage, purchase or create standards-aligned content; teachers can manage standards-aligned assignments and share their promising-practice resources with peers in other schools; and students can complete lessons and assignments using a Web browser and a password. To ensure ease of use for information technology (IT) administrators, Class Server 4.0 supports the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF), Shareable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) and Information Management System (IMS) standards, and provides powerful tools on Microsoft .NET technologies to enable easy integration with existing data and systems.

HP Services worked with Tracy Unified School District (USD) in California to install Class Server 4.0 and integrate it with Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003 on HP ProLiant servers. "HP's expertise and innovation in education are helping school districts like Tracy USD optimize IT resources and processes in order to improve student achievement, provide additional tools to teachers and better manage standards-aligned content," said Cathy Martin, director of Education, HP Government, Health and Education, Americas.

Class Server users, in more than 64 countries, vary in size from large districts to small independent schools. Version 4.0 increases Class Server's already strong customizability and appeal and is delivered in a customized Learning Gateway solution by a host of industry partners including HP, EDmin.com, Chancery Software Ltd., SchoolNet Inc., Sagestone Consulting Inc., Broad Education, Scantron Corp and TetraData Corp.

Microsoft Class Server is now available. Educators can visit http://www.microsoft.com/classserver for more information about product benefits, solution providers, NCLB funding for Class Server solutions, content offerings, online demonstrations and professional development resources; they also can register for a free evaluation copy.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

NOTE: Microsoft and SharePoint are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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