Cisco Announces $40 Million Investment for "21S"

21st Century Schools Education Initiative focused on Gulf Coast Region

JACKSON, MS - October 25, 2005 - Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced a $40 million commitment in a multi-phase, three year education initiative in the Gulf Coast region to aid in post Hurricane Katrina rebuilding activities. The 21S initiative is a blueprint for reconstructing and improving schools that will begin in Mississippi and can be replicated around the country. With this effort, Cisco intends to bring together a coalition of public, private and non profit organizations to provide a holistic approach to building a 21st century educational program benefiting current and future generations of Gulf Coast children.

In the first phase of 21S, Cisco has committed $20 million specifically for the "Mississippi Education Initiative" (MEI) to rebuild, improve and expand the learning opportunities for students in select schools in Mississippi, which will include educational technology, on line curriculum materials, and professional development to facilitate innovative and effective teaching and learning.

In the second phase, Cisco plans to commit to an additional $20 million to expand the 21S initiative within the area devastated by Katrina over the next two to three years. This funding will be made available consistent with plans to be agreed upon by senior leaders at the state and regional level, and with educational institutions for the rebuilding and modernization of their educational systems.

The 21S initiative stems from Cisco's long-standing commitment to education. Cisco's experience in education programs includes the establishment of Cisco Networking Academies, a comprehensive e-learning program that provides students with the Internet technology skills essential in a global economy. Cisco now hosts over 10,000 academies in 165 countries with nearly 500,000 students.

Cisco has also taken a leadership role in the Jordan Education Initiative; a program initiated in 2003 that has begun to dramatically improve education within Jordan. Now serving as a successful model for education reform in other developing countries. Cisco's goal is to use experience gained from training nearly one million students around the world to build an effective program for educating students in the Gulf Coast region.

"The 21S initiative is about empowering our children to participate and thrive in the 21st century economy. It's time for America to lead again, and its time for local schools to lead—with the Gulf Coast schools as our catalyst," said John Chambers, president and CEO, Cisco Systems. "Starting with Mississippi via MEI, our hope is that this program will serve as a blueprint for schools around the country and around the world."

The funding for the 21S initiative comes from Cisco Systems, Inc., as well as a $10 million personal donation from Cisco Chairman John Morgridge, along with a $2 million personal donation by Chambers. Cisco's total investment in the Hurricane Katrina impacted areas will include a contribution of cash, product and human resources.

"I applaud Cisco's leadership in developing 21S and the supporting Mississippi Education Initiative. This type of corporate initiative is essential as our state embarks on an aggressive program to improve and expand learning opportunities for students, especially in schools that were directly impacted by Hurricane Katrina," said Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. "Knowing that such an innovative approach is available is a tremendous boost for the cause of education in Mississippi."

• A Wireless Mesh Network in Select Communities. This advanced network is a highly secure, scalable, broadband network infrastructure which enables new communications applications for schools to better serve the community. The mesh network wirelessly extends the educational and accountability resources of the school system across the community enabling unprecedented levels of collaboration, cooperation and learning for students, teachers and parents.
• The Building Blocks for Seven School Districts (32 schools) in Mississippi including two schools that are Cisco Networking Academies, a comprehensive e-learning program that provides students with the Internet technology skills essential in a global economy. These building blocks include baseline technology support and strategic initiatives such as the Mississippi High School Redesign Program, a twelve point model for transforming grades 9-12; Advanced Placement and online learning programs, and professional learning communities for teachers and administrators.
• Local Grants for Strategic Initiatives in Seven School Districts. Teachers, principals and superintendents will organically develop technology- enabled initiatives that help transform education through connected learning. As part of the 21S blueprint, these strategic initiatives will be funded based on their impact on student success, sustainability and potential for being replicated in other educational institutions.
• Adoption of Rowan Elementary in Hattiesburg, MS to create a model 21st Century School. This school site will undergo a comprehensive transformation and will receive a fully converged IP-network which will include video and voice capabilities. In addition, the school will receive technology and support for interactive class activities, individualized online learning materials, and assessment administration and reporting. 21S funding will also provide professional development opportunities for administrators and teachers, as well as an outreach program for parents. This will be the first of at least three 21st Century schools that Cisco will sponsor in Mississippi.

Additional activities will commence at the schools including investment in equipment and on-the-ground resources.

"Cisco's extraordinary donation will enable students and educators to utilize the greatest technological advances available to aid in the teaching and learning process. Professional development and online instruction are just two types of technology that will be available through state-of-the art, 21st century classrooms," said Dr. Hank M. Bounds, State Superintendent of Education for Mississippi. "We are very excited about this opportunity and what it will mean for our students."

The following schools and districts have been selected for the initial investment in Mississippi:

• Forrest County Agricultural High School
• Forrest County School District
• Hattiesburg School District
• Lamar County School District
• Petal School District
• Moss Point High School (Moss Point School District)
• Harrison County Central High School (Harrison County School District)

By integrating technology into the redesign and rebuilding of the impacted schools in the Gulf Coast, the region will decrease the cost of rebuilding, while enhancing the standards and the success in educating tomorrow's generations and creating a foundation for economic opportunities locally. Additionally, with this rebuilding initiative, Cisco intends to partner with developers of curriculum and supplemental materials, professional development resources, and technology providers to offer greater levels of community involvement.