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Scantron Works with Align to Achieve to Integrate K-12 State Requirements into Achievement Series(TM) Platform Content-Neutral Test Management and Delivery System to Incorporate A2A's Academic Standards e-Library IRVINE, Calif., March 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Educational content standards in mathematics, English language arts, science and social studies will be integrated into Scantron Corporation's new Achievement Series(TM) platform thanks to an agreement between Scantron and Align to Achieve (A2A). The licensing agreement between Scantron Corporation, a recognized leader in education testing and assessment tools for more than three decades, and A2A, a national, non-profit organization that integrates education standards with a research-based alignment system, will result in A2A's Academic Standards e-Library becoming an integral component of Scantron's new test management and delivery platform. It will provide school districts with an integrated, efficient turnkey solution for aligning any classroom material to state requirements. Achievement Series is a content-neutral, Web-based system designed to increase the flexibility, collaboration and efficiency of test development and deployment. It also enables educators to better managestudent performance and help guide instruction in the classroom. A2A's e-Library offering, comprised of the A2A State Standards Database and the A2A+McREL Compendix(TM) Alignment system, is a research-based classification of state and national organization academic benchmarks. "Scantron is setting the new standard for aligning classroom content to state requirements by using A2A's products in its Achievement Series platform," said Frederick M. Balfour, president of A2A. "This agreement will allow educators to rapidly and accurately find resources that align to their specific regional guidelines." According to Balfour, Scantron's use of the A2A e-Library addresses a critical issue for teachers, who must meet more stringent and changing state standards and deliver an increasing amount of content and instruction during the school year. Achievement Series makes it easier for teachers to develop tests that conform to state standards and the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Italso features real-time scoring of tests that enables educators to quickly gauge student performance and spend time on developmental areas. With Achievement Series, tests can be delivered in both online and traditional paper formats, allowing school districts to migrate technology at their own speed. The Web-based benefits of Achievement Series are available in both formats since traditional paper tests can be scanned with the results uploaded to the Web server. "Educators must deploy resources that align with individual state standards, and do so quickly and economically," said Tim Loomer, president of Scantron's Testing and Assessment division. "Our partnership with A2A makes that happen, and because Achievement Series is content neutral, districts can create assessments using their test items, Scantron's bank of test questions, or content from other publishers and test developers." Achievement Series is currently available for purchase. For more information visit http://www.scantron.com/. About Align to Achieve, Inc. Align to Achieve, Inc. (http://www.aligntoachieve.org/) is an independent, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization created in October of 2001 as an outgrowth of its parent company, Achieve, Inc. Align to Achieve (A2A)'s main purpose is the following: -- To build, maintain, and license a Standards Database of the latest K-12 content standards and benchmarks from states, national organizations, and selected countries; -- To provide educators, publishers, and education solution providers with a clear, concise, and consistent format of skill expectations across the nation and beyond in K-12 education; -- To develop, grow, and license a research-based alignment system for education content standards; and -- To give states, districts, local communities, and parents and students a venue for analyzing and sharing skill expectations across grade levels and across the nation. About Scantron Corporation Scantron Corporation (http://www.scantron.com/) is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based John H. Harland Company (NYSE:JH). Scantron is a leading provider of software services and systems for the collection, management and interpretation of data to the educational, financial and commercial markets. The company has approximately 700 employees worldwide and annual revenues exceeding $100 million. About Harland Atlanta-based John H. Harland Company (NYSE:JH) (http://www.harland.net/) is a leading provider of software and printed products to the financial and educational markets. Harland Financial Solutions, Inc., (http://www.harlandfinancialsolutions.com/), a wholly owned subsidiary, supplies software and services, including customer relationship management, deposit and loan origination, core systems and mortgage services to thousands of financial institutions of all sizes. Harland's printed products offerings include checks, direct marketing and financial forms. This press release contains statements, which may constitute "forward- looking statements." These statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of John H. Harland Company and members of its respective management, as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Reference is made to the Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements in Harland's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed under the Securities Exchange Act. (C) 2004 Scantron Corporation, 34 Parker, Irvine, Calif., 92618-1604. All trademarks, trade names, service marks, and logos referenced herein belong to their respective companies. Media Contacts: Kathleen Dixon Dixon Communications 408-871-7765 Joanna Goldston Marketing Manager Scantron Corporation 949-639-7660 DATASOURCE: Scantron Corporation CONTACT: Kathleen Dixon of Dixon Communications, +1-408-871-7765 or , for Scantron Corporation; or Joanna Goldston, Marketing Manager of Scantron Corporation, +1-949-639-7660 or Web site: http://www.aligntoachieve.org/ Web site: http://www.scantron.com/

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