Futurekids, Inc. partners with Microsoft Corporation to bring innovative educational technology solution to the K-12 marketplace

LONG BEACH, Calif. - (May 8, 2003) - Futurekids, Inc., a leading global provider of education technology solutions for K-12 schools, has announced a new partnership with Microsoft Corp., the global leader in software. Through the partnership, Futurekids will work with Microsoft to provide complete education technology solutions to the K-12 education market. Using Microsoft's suite of products, Futurekids will provide professional development training and curricula to teachers and school administrators, technology planning, assessment , and student technology-integrated curricula.

The relationship will allow Microsoft and Futurekids to work together to deliver best of breed solutions to meet the growing demand for systemic technology solutions within the educational community. "Our relationship with Microsoft allows us to tightly align our products and services to the global leader in software solutions. Our customers will now be able to receive the truly integrated end-to-end solution," says Jay Williams, Vice President of Business Development of Futurekids.

"Futurekids' new partnership with Microsoft will expand the audience of teachers and school administrators who are experiencing the unique Futurekids approach to professional development and proven student curricula. Futurekids products and services will now be aligned with Microsoft's exceptional productivity tools. "This partnership is a natural step in assuring that clients both invest in the best software tools and are able to align them with the latest requirements of the educational community and the federal and local government funding sources," states Dzana Homan, President and COO of Futurekids Inc.

Greg Butler, Manager of the Educator and Student Development Group at Microsoft, comments that "Microsoft knows the importance of professional development to technology success in schools. Having companies such as Futurekids as members of our Professional Development Alliance provides access to high quality learning experiences for teachers and administrators, allowing them to gain maximum benefit from their technology investments."

The partnership with Microsoft directly enhances Futurekids' core mission of improving the learning process through the use of technology. Over the next year, Futurekids will develop new technology curriculum and training programs for the Microsoft Windows XP operating system as well as for the Microsoft Pocket PC platform.
 
About Futurekids
Futurekids is the premier provider of technology teacher training solutions for schools and universities around the world. Futurekids has a 22-year record of success in technology education. Their core competency is providing technology training as it relates to teaching and learning. They have relationships and achievements with many key educational partners such as Microsoft, Intel, IBM and Dell.  Futurekids is privately owned with headquarters in Los Angeles, CA. For more information on Futurekids, please visit http://www.futurekids.com/.

About Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a range of software products, including scalable operating systems, server applications, worker productivity applications and software development tools. Microsoft is the global leader in productivity software and solutions.

Click here for additional information on Futurekids Professional Development Alliance.