Lectorum Adds Lexile Measures to Spanish-Language Children's Books

NEW YORK, NY and DURHAM, NC--(Marketwire - January 6, 2009) - Are you looking for a new way to motivate Spanish-language readers? MetaMetrics®, Inc. and Lectorum™ Publications, Inc., the largest and oldest U.S. Spanish-language book distributor and a subsidiary of Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media company, today announced that Spanish Lexile® measures are available for many of Lectorum's most popular children's titles. Educators, librarians and parents can use Spanish Lexile measures to connect students with books and other materials that meet and challenge their unique reading abilities.

"Helping teachers, librarians and families to match the right book to the right child has always been our goal," said Teresa Mlawer, Lectorum president. "Spanish Lexile measures are another tool to help put children on the path to becoming life-long readers and learners."

Currently, more than 500 children's books distributed by Lectorum, including Spanish originals, translations and bilingual titles, have received Spanish Lexile measures. Lectorum plans to have Spanish Lexile measures for 2,000 children's titles in its inventory in the near future. The titles, from publishers such as Everest, Fondo de Cultura Económica, Juventud, Kókinos, Serres and Lectorum itself, are available in Lectorum's online catalog at www.Lectorum.com and MetaMetrics' Spanish Lexile Book Database at www.Lexile.com. This free database includes thousands of fiction and nonfiction books searchable by title, author, keyword and Spanish Lexile range.

"We are pleased to add Lectorum to the growing list of publishers who provide English and Spanish Lexile measures for their materials," said MetaMetrics President Malbert Smith III, Ph.D. "We applaud Lectorum -- and all of our publishing partners -- who understand the unique value that Lexile measures offer in helping to connect students with materials that will promote successful reading experiences."

El Sistema Lexile para Leer, the Spanish-language version of the widely adopted Lexile Framework® for Reading, is an educational tool that connects Spanish-speaking students with materials written in Spanish using a common measure called a Spanish Lexile. What makes El Sistema Lexile unique is that it measures both reading ability and text difficulty on the same developmental scale. When used together, Spanish Lexile reader measures and Spanish Lexile text measures allow educators, librarians, parents and students to find books and other materials that meet and challenge a reader's unique ability and interests. For more information and to search the Spanish Lexile Book Database, visit www.Lexile.com.

The Spanish Lexile measure of a text is calculated using the Spanish Lexile Analyzer®, based on the frequency of the words used in the text and the length of its sentences. Publishers interested in licensing the Spanish Lexile Analyzer to establish certified measures for their materials should contact Trilby Berger, MetaMetrics' director of strategic partnerships, at tberger@Lexile.com or 919-547-3427. All Spanish Lexile measures must be certified by MetaMetrics before they can be published in print or online.

About Lectorum

Lectorum Publications is the largest and oldest U.S. Spanish-language book distributor, delivering more than 25,000 adult and children titles to schools, libraries, universities, bookstores and other specialized markets throughout the United States via www.Lectorum.com and serving consumers throughout the U.S. via www.LibreriaLectorum.com. A subsidiary of Scholastic since 1996, Lectorum also publishes children's books in Spanish.

About MetaMetrics, Inc.

MetaMetrics, Inc., a privately held educational measurement company, develops scientifically based measures of student achievement that link assessment with instruction, foster better educational practices, and improve learning by matching students with materials that meet and challenge their abilities. The company's team of psychometricians developed the widely adopted Lexile Framework for Reading (www.Lexile.com); El Sistema Lexile para Leer, the Spanish-language version of the Lexile Framework; The Quantile Framework® for Mathematics (www.Quantiles.com); and The Lexile Framework for Writing. In addition to licensing Lexile and Quantile® measures to state departments of education, testing and instructional companies, and publishers, MetaMetrics delivers professional development, resource measurement and customized consulting services. For more information, visit www.MetaMetricsInc.com.

MetaMetrics®, the MetaMetrics logo and tagline, Lexile®, Lexile Framework®, Lexile Analyzer®, the Lexile logo, Quantile®, Quantile Framework® and the Quantile logo are trademarks of MetaMetrics, Inc., and are registered in the United States and abroad. The trademarks and names of other companies and products mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners. Copyright © 2008 MetaMetrics, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contact Information: For more information, press only: MetaMetrics: Eric Zurowski 919-547-3453 Lectorum: Cathy Lasiewicz 212-343-6570