PEDH Peoples Educational Holdings, Inc. (MM)

Peoples Educational Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEDH), a leading provider of print and online supplemental educational materials for the K-12 school market, has named Michael Urban to the new role of Chief Development Officer.

Urban, a respected and innovative leader in the education technology market, will spearhead strategic development and positioning of the company's expanding line of print and digital educational products. Reporting to Peoples Education President and CEO Brian T. Beckwith, Urban brings to the company nearly two decades of leadership in the development of instructional and assessment products and platforms, with an emphasis on standards-based learning.

Before joining Peoples Education, Urban served as an Education Management Consultant, supporting clients in the K-12, College Preparation, Student Information Systems, Behavioral Health and Elementary Health Education sectors, where he led the corporate global strategy with respect to technology alignment, development best practices, and integrated business intelligence. Urban has also held executive positions at Best Associates, Software Technology, Inc. and Test University, Inc., combining his technology and management skills to align IT investments with organizational strategy, deploy scalable products, and leverage assets across multiple delivery platforms. Additionally, he has developed some of the leading assessment, test preparation, and curriculum solutions utilized by educators and students today, including XAP's flagship solution for precollegiate and state-exit exam preparation, TestGear.

"I'm proud to continue our tradition of hiring the most exceptional professionals in the business," commented Brian T. Beckwith. "Michael brings to Peoples more than 20 years of experience in the private and education sectors and has a well-earned reputation as a trusted and respected leader. As Chief Development Officer, he'll help us evaluate the opportunities presented by exciting new product formats and delivery systems -- to leverage our considerable strengths across the digital and print realms and to maintain a leadership position in the rapidly changing education marketplace."

"The opportunity to join the Peoples Education team is truly exceptional," stated Urban. "Peoples Education is one of the nation's great education companies, with a proud history of innovation, outstanding talent, and enviable nationwide implementation of its product lines and services. It's an honor to join its leadership team and build on the organization's achievements as we equip students and teachers with flexible, personalized instructional tools necessary for 21st-century success."

Adds Beckwith, "Peoples Education is proud of a successful 20-year history, providing products and services such as the widely praised Measuring Up® series and other standards-based tools. With Michael Urban's help, we look forward to bringing a new emphasis to technology development and digital product growth that fosters measurable student achievement."

Urban holds a B.A. in Philosophy and English from Vanderbilt University and an M.S. in Corporate Communications with a focus on Instructional Systems & Organizational Development from Ithaca College. He resides in East Brunswick, NJ, with his wife and daughter.

About Peoples Education Peoples Educational Holdings, Inc. is a publisher and marketer of print and digital educational materials for the K-12 school market. The Company focuses its efforts in three market areas:

Test Preparation, Assessment, and Instruction Test Preparation and Assessment: The Company's state-customized print and digital test preparation and assessment materials help teachers prepare students for success in school and for required state proficiency tests for grades 1-12.

Instruction: Proprietary state-customized print worktexts and print and web-based delivered assessments for grades 1-8 provide students with in-depth instruction and practice in reading, language arts, and mathematics. In addition, the Company's backlist remedial and multicultural products are included in this group.

Literacy Under the Brightpoint Literacy imprint, Peoples Education distributes K-8 supplemental literacy materials for three publishers on an exclusive basis in the United States. These include an extensive selection of leveled reading materials; high-interest resources for striving readers; series that integrate reading, science, and social studies; and selections and strategies for English Language Learners.

College Preparation The Company publishes and distributes instructional materials that meet the required academic standards for high school honors, college preparation, and Advanced Placement courses. The Company is the exclusive high school distributor for two major college publishers and also creates its own proprietary college preparation supplements and ancillary materials.

For more information, go to http://www.peopleseducation.com.

Contact: Victoria Kiely Vice President, Investor Relations Email Contact 201-712-0090 ext. 215