FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lisa Rosenthal, GreatSchools
415-977-0700, ext. 123 or 116

SAN FRANCISCO, August 1, 2002-GreatSchools.net posted the TAAS scores and official overall accountability ratings for all schools in Texas on its Web site today within hours after Commissioner of Education Felipe Alanis released them to the public.

"One of the tools that makes GreatSchools.net valuable to parents is the ability to compare test scores and accountability ratings," said Elliot Witney, principal of the KIPP Academy, a charter school in Houston, who also serves on the GreatSchools.net Texas Advisory Council. "GreatSchools.net also helps parents understand how the ratings are calculated," he added.

An independent nonprofit organization, GreatSchools.net provides comprehensive school profiles and practical advice about how to navigate the K-12 school system. Texas, along with Florida, Arizona, California and the state of Washington, benefit from in-depth coverage on GreatSchools.net.

Among the features that make GreatSchools.net parent-friendly are comprehensive School Profiles that offer information about student achievement, teacher qualifications and demographics; Match School Needs, an interactive tool that enables parents to identify nearby schools with characteristics that are important to them; and My School Stats, a customized email newsletter that keeps parents up-to-date on their school's test scores, demographics and other important data.

Enhanced School Profiles, another unique feature, allow principals to augment state-provided data with information about their school's curriculum and special programs. Just in time for back to school, the Parent Resource Center provides parents with tips on reading and learning activities, in addition to a wide range of articles on other education topics.

Major funding for GreatSchools.net's Texas School Guide is provided by Washington Mutual and the Challenge Foundation.

An independent nonprofit organization, GreatSchools.net is the leading national online guide to K-12 schools and the only Web site to publish student achievement information for virtually every public school in the nation. The mission of GreatSchools is to provide parents with the information they need to choose, support and improve schools. With more than 2 million page views per month, GreatSchools.net reaches a large, nationwide audience. Media distribution partners include America Online, the Microsoft Network and Knight Ridder Digital. Major national funding is provided by the Pisces Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Washington Mutual. GreatSchools.net does not charge users for its services.