NASHUA, NH, October, 2002 — Delta Education, LLC, a leading educational publisher of science, math, and reading materials, has acquired the assets of Touchphonics Reading Systems LLC, the developer of a hands-on program that allows children to dramatically improve their reading and spelling skills.

Touchphonics is a multi-sensory system of 200 color-coded, three-dimensional letters and letter combinations called "touch-units©." Made of soft, textured plastic letters, touch-units can be manipulated to convey patterns of word structure on easy-to-use trays. By picking up, blending and substituting touch-units, children learn to match sounds to symbols and build new words.

"The results have been remarkable," said Gary Facente, President of Delta Education. "Students who were previously weak in phonics have gained as many as two grade levels in one semester using Touchphonics."

The improvement in literacy came without the use of tapes, flash cards or worksheets. Because Touchphonics fits the philosophy and instructional methods of current thinking about literacy, it also uses authentic literature in teaching the structure of reading and writing.

"Touchphonics is strongly rooted in scientific research," said Nick Gaehde, President of Educators Publishing Service, the Delta Education division that will sell Touchphonics. "Our materials and methods are more closely aligned with new research on how children learn reading. Touchphonics significantly improves literacy performance across all student populations, especially at-risk and special education."

Touchphonics is currently in use in more than 5,000 public schools throughout the United States.

"At a time when there is tremendous emphasis on early reading instruction, we are proud to add Touchphonics to our extensive line of products," said Facente, President of Delta Education. "We look forward to developing line extensions of Touchphonics so we can reach children in need and help them become better readers."

Delta Education, LLC, (www.delta-education.com) a New Hampshire-based corporation, has been serving educators for more than 25 years by providing the best in K-12 hands-on science and math materials. The company produces a diverse range of products, including FOSS® (Full Option Science System®), Delta Science Modules™ (DSM II), and the Math in a Nutshell® and Science in a Nutshell® series. Other divisions of Delta include CPO Science (www.cpo.com), the Peabody, MA based publisher of science learning systems for secondary schools and Educators Publishing Service (www.epsbooks.com) of Cambridge MA, publisher of reading materials for elementary school students, including EXPLODE THE CODE and PRIMARY PHONICS and now TOUCHPHONICS.

The Wicks Group of Companies, L.L.C. (www.wicksgroup.com) purchased Delta Education in August 2001. Wicks is a New York-based private equity firm that invests in communications, information and media businesses.

Wicks Learning Group
Wicks Group of Companies, L.L.C.
80 Northwest Blvd.
Nashua, NH 03063
603.579.3500