Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Athena Learning Centers Adds In-Home Franchise Opportunities to Traditional Retail Storefront Model PRINCETON, N.J., July 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Athena Learning Centers of Princeton, New Jersey, today introduced an In-Home brand model to potential franchisees that would enable them to offer K-12 one-to-one tutoring in math, reading, writing and science, as well as SAT and ACT college test preparation support in students' homes or other mutually agreed upon locations. This complements the company's traditional retail storefront franchise option, offering a lower-cost of entry to join the Athena Learning Centers network and a means to service smaller markets where the population would not support a retail storefront. Athena Learning Centers are a community of year-round Learning Centers that offer K-12 students innovative solutions for improving their math and reading skills in preparation for success in college and the 21st century workplace. Athena's after-school program curriculum is directly aligned with the Common Core State Standards. The company currently has franchises established in New Jersey, Texas and Florida, and plans to open 20 more in 2014. "Our decision to create Athena Learning Centers as a franchisor was fueled by our passion to help children and improve their lives through education," said Mark Mele, CEO, Athena Learning Centers. "We seek franchisees who share our commitment and realize that some will not have the resources or potential customer base to support a retail location. Our In-Home franchise option, along with our original retail storefront model, opens the door for virtually any qualified educator or entrepreneur to join our team and integrate our proven framework for success." In-Home Brand Option: New Way to Integrate The Athena AdvantageSM By owning the Athena Learning Centers In-Home brand in their market, franchisees leverage all of the operational expertise and products of a traditional Athena Learning Center with an estimated initial investment of $45,000. (The investment for a retail storefront franchise is approximately $125,000.) Owners can either be certified teachers or employers with a staff of certified teachers that provide one-on-one instruction to students. Those choosing the In-Home brand Athena Learning Centers offer students The Athena AdvantageSM, the same package of powerful enrichment and remedial solutions used by retail storefront franchises, to help all students meet high standards. Throughout the program, all progress and results are quantifiable. New students are assessed on their understanding of their grade-level schoolwork as well as their work habits and attitudes towards school. During coursework, instructors use a system of checkpoints to track progress, addressing needs immediately. Lastly, all students must pass a post-program test to make sure they have mastered the current work before moving on to the next level. Athena Learning Centers has partnered with several other leading education services, such as Pearson Education, to ensure that there is a strict alignment between what students learn via Athena Learning Centers' programs and what they are expected to learn at school. Programs and lessons are regularly updated to keep pace with the latest standards and best practices in education. "The global market for supplemental education services is expected to near $200 billion by 2020*, which presents a remarkable opportunity for our franchisees," said Mele. "The current trends toward larger class sizes, increased competition to get into colleges and busier lives and schedules of families are only deepening. With Athena Learning Centers, parents can rest assured that their children will be the best they can be within the academic environment regardless of these factors." Athena Learning Centers also offer ABC MUSIC & ME® created by Kindermusik®, a program that extends the benefits to students, and potential for franchisees, to the pre-school level. Using a research-based early childhood curriculum comprised of thematic 30-minute lessons, preschoolers (aged 2-5 years old) learn important language, listening, and social skills. About Athena Athena offers the industry's most innovative solutions for K-12 students, with a curriculum that is directly aligned with the Common Core State Standards. As a franchise investment opportunity, Athena Learning Centers partnered with best-in-class providers of education products and business services to provide franchisees with state-of-the-art systems and the Athena AdvantageSM educational package to use in each of its franchised locations nationwide. This package will give Athena Learning Centers a competitive edge in the marketplace. ###