Hatch Inc. and SMART Technologies Inc. Develop Comprehensive K-1 Content for SMART Board Interactive Whiteboards

New SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard Content Solution Aligns to Common Core Standards

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hatch Inc., a leading provider of classroom technology innovations for early learning and SMART Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:SMT) (TSX:SMA), a leading provider of collaboration solutions, announced today the creation of CoreFocus by Hatch^TM. The content solution, designed to work within SMART Notebook™ collaborative learning software, includes more than 2,500 research-based math and literacy activities for kindergarten and first grade and is aligned with the new national Common Core State Standards.

“We are pleased to enter into a new phase of our relationship with Hatch, collaborating with their research and development experts in the creation of standards-based activities for SMART Board interactive whiteboards that educators can easily integrate into their curriculum”

The robust set of activities will assist teachers in integrating SMART Board interactive whiteboards into their daily lesson plans and curriculum and also provide a content management system for all of their existing interactive whiteboard content. Early learning experts designed CoreFocus by Hatch to provide critical math and literacy skill development for young learners.

“Hatch is excited to work alongside SMART Technologies to develop a comprehensive content solution that supports teachers in accessing research-based math and literacy activities, with a focus on Common Core State Standards for kindergarten and first grade. The team who developed the TeachSmart® Learning System, the first interactive whiteboard solution proven to impact math and literacy outcomes for early education, led the development of CoreFocus. This product will have a definite impact on the development of children and provide teachers with proven strategies for success,” said Hatch President Ginny Norton.

“We are pleased to enter into a new phase of our relationship with Hatch, collaborating with their research and development experts in the creation of standards-based activities for SMART Board interactive whiteboards that educators can easily integrate into their curriculum,” said SMART Products Vice President Linda Thomas. “CoreFocus by Hatch supports our commitment to meet the needs of educators with innovative products and services to further engage their students with high quality content made in SMART Notebook software and fully aligned to Common Core State Standards.”

About Hatch

Hatch® (http://www.hatchearlychildhood.com) is an expert in developing innovative classroom technology solutions for the early learning classroom. Our products use cutting-edge technology to present children with opportunities to develop essential skills aligned to standards and foundational research, with progress monitoring solutions to help educators create long-term success in the classroom and in the lives of children.

About SMART

SMART Technologies (http://www.smarttech.com) is a leading provider of collaboration solutions that transform the way the world works and learns. We believe that collaboration and interaction should be easy. As the global leader in interactive whiteboards, we bring more than two decades of collaboration research and development to a broad range of easy-to-use, integrated solutions that free people from their desks and computer screens, so collaborating and learning with digital resources are more natural.