Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are statements based on current expectations about our business and industry, as well as our beliefs and assumptions. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue” and variations and negatives of these words and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those identified with asterisks (*) in this report, are not guarantees of future performance or events, and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control and some of which we may not even be presently aware. As a result, our future results and other future events or trends may differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Specific factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in this Management’s Discussion and in Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors.” We also refer you to the risk factors that are or may be discussed from time to time in our public announcements and filings with the SEC, including our future Forms 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect our view only as of the date of this report. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this report. Overview We develop and distribute the Fast ForWord® family of reading intervention software. Our innovative products apply advances in neuroscience and cognitive research to increase learning capacity by building the fundamental cognitive skills required to read and learn. Extensive outcomes research by independent researchers, our founding scientists, and our company demonstrates that the Fast ForWord products help students attain rapid, lasting gains in the skills critical for reading. To facilitate the use of our products, we offer a variety of on-site and remote professional and technical services, as well as phone, email and web-based support. Our primary market is K-12 schools in the United States, to which we sell using a direct sales force. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, K-12 schools accounted for 91% and 92% of booked sales, respectively. By the end of June 2006, approximately 4,200 schools had purchased at least $10,000 of our Fast ForWord product licenses and services. In late June 2006, we released our latest product, Fast ForWord to Literacy Advanced; this new product had no material impact on our results for the period ending June 30, 2006. As of June 30, 2006 we had 194 full-time employees, compared to 178 at June 30, 2005. Business Highlights The K-12 education market is large and growing. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are 54 million K-12 students with the number growing to nearly 57 million in 2014. Eduventures, a strategic consulting firm in the education industry, has estimated that in 2003, K-12 schools spent $3.3 billion on supplemental content for all subject areas. Another market gauge, provided by the Education Market Report’s Complete K-12 Newsletter (July 2005), estimated the market for all educational software at approximately $800 million for the 2004-2005 school year. This represents growth of approximately 10% over 2003-2004, compared to declining or flat sales in the years from 2001 to 2004. According to a recent survey by the National Conference of State Legislatures, state budget conditions continue to improve.* State budget overruns are declining, although states still report increasing spending demands for Medicaid and other health care programs, corrections, pensions, education and other priorities.* Among the federal education programs, we believe that Title 1 and IDEA (special education) have been the most significant sources of funds for purchases of Fast ForWord licenses. The 2006 federal appropriations for these programs are at approximately the same level as in 2005. The current federal budget deficit and competing priorities, however, may adversely impact the continuing availability of federal education funding. The federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 established reading achievement, grade level proficiency, and accountability through assessment as important national priorities. NCLB also emphasizes the need to use proven practices and products grounded in scientifically based research to improve student performance. Our products align well with the emphases of NCLB, and we believe that this alignment assists us in marketing and selling our products. |