UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J. -- Seven Pearson Education products earned finalist honors in the Software & Information Industry Association's (SIIA) 21st Annual Codie Awards. The awards, which will be announced on May 16, recognize outstanding achievement and vision in the software, digital content and education technology industries.

Pearson Education leads the prestigious list of Codie award contenders with more finalist honors than any other education company participating in the awards program. This year, the Codie Awards recognized finalists in 71 categories and drew a record-breaking 1,026 nominations.

"We are committed to developing high-quality products that help improve every aspect of teaching and learning," said Steve Dowling, CEO, Pearson School Companies. "It is exciting to have the software industry recognize this commitment to innovation by having seven of our products earn Codie finalist recognition."

The following products were named as Codie Awards finalists:

--Pearson Education PASeries(TM) (Progress Assessment Series(TM)) formative assessment product line -- Best Student Test Preparation Solution

--Pearson Assessments Prosper(TM) -- Best Student Assessment Solution

--Pearson Learning Group QuickReads(R) Technology Edition -- Best Instructional Solution: Language Arts/Reading - Elementary

--Pearson Knowledge Technologies Summary Street(R) -- Best Instructional Solution: Language Arts/English - Secondary

--Pearson School Systems Centerpoint(TM) -- Best Student Information System or Gradebook

--Pearson Digital Learning KnowledgeBox(R) -- Best Education Reference or Search Service

--Pearson Digital Learning Waterford Early Reading Program(TM) -- Best Instructional Solution - Language Arts/Reading - Elementary

Established in 1986, the Codie Awards recognize outstanding achievement and vision in the software, digital content and education technology industries. The program is the leading honor for this industry's finest products and services. The Codie Awards is the only peer-recognition awards program of its kind in the industry, providing a unique opportunity for companies to earn the praise of their competitors.

About the Software & Information Industry Association

The Software & Information Industry Association is the principal trade association for the software and digital content industry. SIIA provides global services in government relations, business development, corporate education and intellectual property protection to the leading companies that are setting the pace for the digital age. Go to www.siia.net for further information.

About Pearson Education

Educating 100 million people worldwide, Pearson Education is the global leader in educational publishing. With brands such as Pearson Prentice Hall, Pearson Scott Foresman, Pearson Educational Measurement, Pearson Assessments, Pearson Learning Group, LessonLab, and many others, Pearson Education provides quality content, assessment tools and educational services in all available media, spanning the learning curve from birth through college and beyond. Pearson Education is part of Pearson (NYSE:PSO), the international media company, whose other primary operations include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group.