MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 1, 2008 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has implemented the Assessment Solutions Promoting Instruction Reflection and Evidence (ASPIRE) of Learning System throughout Fairfax County Public Schools, helping to close previously-undetected education gaps and track essential state education standards for approximately 165,000 students.

The ASPIRE Assessment System focuses on formative assessment. Formative assessment is the process of evaluating students during the learning process to help ensure learning and close the achievement gap, allowing teachers and schools to focus on areas where students need help. Northrop Grumman's Information Technology (IT) sector developed this system, which provides teachers with immediate feedback on student learning to help refine their instructional practice and target students in need of intervention.

"Northrop Grumman is committed to preparing students for the competitive global economy through the ASPIRE system," said Mark Scheffel, director of business process solutions for Northrop Grumman IT's Civilian Agencies group. "Fairfax County schools have already seen the benefits of this system through its tracking of critical performance information, allowing students to achieve the best results in the classroom."

Fairfax County was the first to implement an enhancement to the ASPIRE system that allows teachers easy access to instructional resources from the ASPIRE Assessment Reports page. This enhancement is part of a software upgrade that is available to all schools using the ASPIRE system. Northrop Grumman is working with Blackboard, Inc., Washington D.C., on this contract.

Fairfax County began using the ASPIRE system during the 2006-2007 school year as part of their eCART system and has gradually increased the participating schools over the last three years. Work on the contract is occurring in Fairfax, Va.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide. 

  CONTACT:  Juli Ballesteros
          Northrop Grumman Information Technology
          (703) 556-2736
          juli.ballesteros@ngc.com