FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARK™ Partners with BlueCross BlueShield to Provide Quality PE to Twenty Tennessee Middle Schools

$10,000 “Shape the State” grants help schools improve their physical education programs

San Diego, CA, February 9, 2012 — SPARK™, provider of the world’s most-researched physical education program and a division of School Specialty, has partnered with the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation to offer their award-winning PE program to twenty Middle Schools across the state. Each “Shape the State” grant is worth $10,000 and includes SPARK physical education curriculum, teacher training and equipment for each recipient school. In addition, each school received $1,000 to spend on PE, nutrition and wellness efforts.

“These 20 “Shape the State” grant-winning schools demonstrated a need and the desire to take their students’ health to a new level,” said Calvin Anderson, BlueCross BlueShield senior vice president of corporate affairs and executive director of the Foundation. “We look forward to seeing them using these tools to transform their students’ fitness this year.”

According to the TN state Department of Health, about 40 percent of Tennessee children are overweight or obese. Obesity dramatically increases a person’s risk for dangerous health conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The “Shape the State” grants continue a longstanding practice of BlueCross BlueShield Tennessee Health Foundation’s supporting efforts to fight childhood obesity in the state.

“Research shows that students who develop healthy lifestyles at early ages have a better chance to maintain those habits throughout adulthood,” said Paul Rosengard, SPARK’s Executive Director. “By instituting the SPARK PE program, the school district is planting the seeds of success in multiple facets of students’ lives, including academic achievement.”

Schools awarded BlueCross’ first Shape the State grants are currently implementing the new physical education programs and wellness activities. To get ready, teachers from the winning schools first participated in a rigorous, two-day training event in November 2011.

About SPARK
SPARK is a collection of research-based Physical Education, After School, Early Childhood, and Coordinated School Health programs for educators serving Pre-K through 12th grade students. Since 1989, SPARK has provided curriculum materials, teacher training, and consultation to over 100,000 teachers and youth leaders, representing many thousands of schools, organizations, and agencies worldwide. SPARK also helps educators find physical education grants. For more information on SPARK, visit http://www.sparkpe.org or email spark(at)sparkpe(dot)org or call 1-800-SPARK-PE.

About School Specialty
School Specialty (NASDAQ: SCHS) is a leading education company that provides innovative and proprietary products, programs and services to help educators engage and inspire students of all ages and abilities to learn. The company designs, develops, and provides PreK-12 educators with the latest and very best curriculum, supplemental learning resources, and school supplies.

For more information about School Specialty, visit www.schoolspecialty.com.

About Tennessee Health Foundation, Inc.
The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, Inc. (THF) was established in
December, 2003 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation organized to promote the philanthropic
mission of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. THF awards grants focused on high-impact
initiatives across the state, which promote healthy lifestyle choices and help control health care
costs for all Tennessee residents. Working with civic and economic partners, THF is dedicated to
the support of research, innovative programs and creative approaches to improve the health and
quality of life of Tennesseans for generations to come.

Media Contacts:

Billy Beltz
SPARK Marketing Director
800-772-7573 x2247
Billy.Beltz@schoolspecialty.com

Contact: Mary Danielson, APR
(423) 535-7694

Kati Elliott
KEH Communications
410-975-9638
kati@kehcomm.com

Katherine Russo
KEH Communications
410-975-9638
Katherine@kehcomm.com

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