WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis., July 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Renaissance Learning(R), Inc. (Nasdaq: RLRN), a leading provider of computer-based assessment and progress monitoring technology to support personalized reading, writing, and math instruction and practice in K-12 schools, today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 . Revenues for the second quarter of 2007 were $27.2 million , a decrease of 7.3% from second quarter 2006 revenues of $29.3 million . Deferred revenue increased by $4.6 million in the second quarter of 2007 versus a $2.0 million increase in the prior year's second quarter. Net income for the second quarter of 2007 was $2.2 million , or $.08 per share, compared to net income of $4.7 million , or $.16 per share, for the second quarter last year.

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Revenues for the six-month period ended June 30, 2007 were $53.9 million , down 10.9% from 2006 revenues of $60.4 million . Deferred revenue increased by $5.0 million versus a decrease of $0.6 million in the first six months of 2006. Net income was $3.5 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2007 , down 57.1% from the prior year's net income of $8.2 million . Earnings per share for the first half of 2007 were $.12 compared to $.27 in the first six months of 2006.

'Though it is not apparent yet in the revenue and income numbers because of our transition to the Enterprise subscription model which delays revenue recognition, this was a good quarter for us providing solid evidence of a turnaround,' commented Terrance D. Paul, Chief Executive Officer. 'Second quarter orders, excluding laptops, were up almost 9%, the strongest growth in over four years, and with the recently announced Home Connect feature, we expect Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Math Enterprise sales will continue to grow. We also achieved growth in the number of new school customers compared to last year for most of our products. The laptop product line was the one glaring negative with revenues declining nearly 17%; however, we expect this to rebound as well. In addition, the feedback on the recently announced NEO2 has been very positive. NEO2 adds several new features to the already popular NEO product. In particular, NEO2 will be able to run Accelerated Reader which, with an estimated over one million computers dedicated to running AR in schools nationwide, is a very good thing.'

The company announced that its Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $.75 per share and increased its quarterly cash dividend 40% from $.05 per share to $.07 per share, both payable September 4, 2007 to shareholders of record as of August 10, 2007 . 'Today's Board action is a reflection of our confidence in the company's long-term growth prospects, strong cash flow and overall financial strength,' stated Paul. 'While stock buyback activity may also continue, the Board believes that, at this time, distributing cash to shareholders through higher dividends is a good use of our strong cash flow to enhance shareholder value.'

Renaissance Learning added about 700 new customer schools in the U.S. and Canada during the quarter, bringing total North American schools that are actively using the Company's products to over 72,000. Of these, over 62,000 are using the Company's reading products, over 28,000 are using the Company's math products and over 18,000 are using at least one Renaissance Place product.

The Company will hold a conference call at 4:00 p.m. CDST today to discuss its financial results, quarterly highlights and business outlook. The teleconference may be accessed in listen-only mode by dialing 888-603-6873, ID number 8982657 at 4:00 p.m. CDST. Please call a few minutes before the scheduled start time to ensure a proper connection.

A digital recording of the conference call will be made available on July 18, 2007 at 8:00 p.m. through July 25, 2007 at 11:59 p.m. The replay dial-in is 877-519-4471. The conference ID number to access the replay is 8982657.

Renaissance Learning, Inc.

Renaissance Learning is the world's leading provider of computer-based assessment technology for K-12 schools. Adopted by more than 72,000 North American schools, Renaissance Learning's tools provide daily formative assessment and periodic progress-monitoring technology to enhance core curriculum, support differentiated instruction, and personalize practice in reading, writing, and math. Our products help educators make the practice component of their existing curriculum more effective by providing tools to personalize practice and easily manage the daily activities for students of all ability levels. As a result, teachers using Renaissance Learning products accelerate learning, achieve higher test scores on state and national tests, and get more satisfaction from teaching. Renaissance Learning has seven U.S. locations and subsidiaries in Canada , India , and the United Kingdom .

This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding 2007 financial results, growth initiatives and management's revenue expectations and growth prospects for future periods. Any such forward-looking statements may involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results encompassed within the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks associated with the implementation of the Company's strategic growth plan and other risks affecting the Company's business as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K and later filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. The Company expressly disclaims a duty to provide updates to forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or other occurrences.


                          RENAISSANCE LEARNING(R), INC.
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
             (dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
                                   (unaudited)

                                     Three Months             Six Months
                                    Ended June 30,          Ended June 30,
                                   2007        2006        2007     2006

    Net sales:
     Products                    $22,206     $24,925     43,908   $50,249
     Services                      4,971       4,394      9,957    10,188
       Total net sales            27,177      29,319     53,865    60,437

    Cost of sales:
     Products                      4,490       4,982      8,193     9,311
     Services                      2,443       1,875      5,310     4,681
       Total cost of sales         6,933       6,857     13,503    13,992

    Gross profit                  20,244      22,462     40,362    46,445

    Operating expenses:
     Product development           4,636       4,305      9,702     8,487
     Selling and marketing         8,835       7,389     18,240    16,744
     General and administrative    3,612       3,692      7,455     8,898

       Total operating expenses   17,083      15,386     35,397    34,129

    Operating income               3,161       7,076      4,965    12,316

    Other income (expense), net      324         343        626       625

    Income before income taxes     3,485       7,419      5,591    12,941

    Income taxes                   1,307       2,745      2,096     4,788

    Net Income                    $2,178      $4,674     $3,495    $8,153

    Income per share:
     Basic                         $0.08       $0.16      $0.12     $0.27
     Diluted                       $0.08       $0.16      $0.12     $0.27

    Weighted average
     shares outstanding:
    Basic                     28,809,707  29,830,082 28,834,117 29,986,642
    Diluted                   28,828,288  29,837,205 28,854,858 29,996,432


                          RENAISSANCE LEARNING(R), INC.
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                          (dollar amounts in thousands)
                                   (unaudited)

                                                    June 30,     December 31,
                                                      2007           2006

    ASSETS:
    Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                         $8,005         $5,953
    Investment securities                             14,536         22,525
    Accounts receivable, net                          14,404         10,528
    Inventories                                        5,268          4,108
    Prepaid expenses                                   1,638          1,895
    Income taxes receivable                            2,231          4,104
    Deferred tax asset                                 3,599          3,596
    Other current assets                                 288             97
       Total current assets                           49,969         52,806

    Investment securities                             10,303          1,625
    Property, plant and equipment, net                11,455         11,811
    Goodwill                                          47,022         46,973
    Other noncurrent assets                            6,665          7,308

       Total assets                                 $125,414       $120,523

    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
    Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable                                  $1,969         $2,782
    Deferred revenue                                  27,751         23,751
    Payroll and employee benefits                      5,062          4,750
    Other current liabilities                          3,457          3,429
       Total current liabilities                      38,239         34,712

    Deferred revenue                                   1,895            885
    Deferred compensation and other
     employee benefits                                 1,822          1,665
    Deferred tax liability                                 -            878
    Income taxes payable                               4,193          2,812
    Other non-current liabilities                        207              -
       Total liabilities                              46,356         40,952

       Total shareholders' equity                     79,058         79,571

       Total liabilities and shareholders' equity   $125,414       $120,523

SOURCE Renaissance Learning, Inc.