Exhibit 99.1

2911 Peach Street • P.O. Box 8036 • Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495-8036

Renaissance Learning, Inc. Announces Second Quarter, 2006 Results

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis., — July 18, 2006 — Renaissance Learning^®, Inc., (Nasdaq: RLRN), a leading provider of computerized assessment and progress monitoring tools for pre-K—12 schools and districts, today announced financial results for the three- and six- month periods ended June 30, 2006.  Revenues for the second quarter of 2006 were $29.3 million, an increase of 3.4% from second quarter 2005 revenues of $28.3 million. Net income was $4.7 million compared to net income of $7.3 million for the second quarter of 2005, a decrease of 36%.  Earnings per share for the quarter were $0.16, compared to $0.24 per share earned in the prior year.

Revenues for the six-month period ended June 30, 2006 were $60.4 million, up 8.1% from 2005 revenues of $55.9 million.  Net income was $8.2 million for the six-month period, down 40.9% from the prior year net income of $13.8 million.  Earnings per share for the first half of 2006 were $0.27 compared to $0.45 in the first six months of 2005.  Excluding AlphaSmart revenues, the Company’s revenues declined by 20% for the quarter and 12% for the six-month period compared to the prior year, while AlphaSmart revenues declined by 20% for the quarter and 24% for the six-month period compared to its prior year results.

“As expected, second quarter results continued to show declines over the prior year,” commented Terrance D. Paul, Chief Executive Officer.  “However, we are seeing a significant increase in quote activity.  The market has been particularly receptive to our new full subscription Accelerated Reader Enterprise offering, the impact of which can be seen in the increase in deferred revenue of $2 million in the quarter, and there has been an improvement in orders for the AlphaSmart Neo laptop as a result of our renewed sales and marketing efforts.  On the other hand, while we are encouraged by these positive signs, we still have significant work to do to get back to a growth mode.”

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Renaissance Learning added about 700 new customer schools in the U.S. and Canada during the quarter, bringing total North American schools that are actively using the Company products to more than 70,000.  Of these, more than 57,000 are using the Company’s reading products and more than 24,000 are using the company’s math products.

The Company will hold a conference call at 4:00 p.m. CDST today to discuss its financial results, quarterly highlights, and business outlook.  The teleconference may be accessed in listen-only mode by dialing 888-373-2605, ID number 7571156 at 4:00 p.m. CDST.  Please call a few minutes before the scheduled start time to ensure a proper connection.

A digital recording of the conference call will be made available on July 18, 2006 at 8:00 p.m. through July 25, 2006 at 11:59 p.m. CDST. The replay dial-in is 877-519-4471.  The conference ID number to access the replay is 7571156.

Renaissance Learning, Inc.

Renaissance Learning, Inc. is a leading provider of computerized assessment and progress monitoring tools for pre-K-12 schools and districts.  Renaissance Learning products give students and teachers continuous feedback to inform instruction and help teachers and administrators motivate students, dramatically accelerate learning, and improve test scores. Renaissance Learning has seven U.S. locations and subsidiaries in Canada, India and the United Kingdom.

This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding growth initiatives and management’s revenue expectations and growth prospects for future periods.  Any such forward-looking statements may involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results encompassed within the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks associated with the implementation of the Company’s strategic growth plan and other risks affecting the Company’s business as described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K and later filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which factors are incorporated herein by reference.  The Company expressly disclaims a duty to provide updates to forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or other occurrences.

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