First Open Source Instructional Program Approved Through a State Adoption Process An Option to Traditional, Highly Priced Textbooks

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Wireless Generation today announced that www.FreeReading.net, a free, open source reading program, has been officially adopted by the state of Florida. The adoption places FreeReading.net on a short list of K-3 supplemental reading programs that Florida schools may use state instructional money to purchase for the 2008-2009 school year. FreeReading.net is the first open source instructional program to be approved through an official state adoption. The Florida decision, along with educators' strong positive response to the program, indicates that school systems will consider alternatives to the traditional printed textbook.

"K-12 education has long been wedded to the traditional model of educational publishing, in which textbooks are updated and reprinted every 5 to 7 years, and schools pay as much as $150 for a single book. Florida's decision is a significant tipping point, validating the notion that educators will consider high quality open source instructional programs as a viable option to support classroom instruction," said Larry Berger, CEO and Co-Founder of Wireless Generation.

Open source coupled with a Web 2.0 platform offers distinct advantages over the traditional publishing model. Instructional material can be regularly updated to reflect the collective wisdom of teachers and researchers. In addition, open source instructional programs can be produced and distributed inexpensively, significantly reducing or, in the case of FreeReading.net, completely eliminating the prices that schools pay for such programs. Because FreeReading.net is available at no charge, Florida districts can invest more of their textbook funding in instructional tools and materials that support effective teaching.

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