Document:

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                                                                     Exhibit 4.1

                             AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                       OF NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES, INC.

         This Amendment No. 1, dated as of August 4 2002, amends the Rights
Agreement dated as of May 16, 2000 (the "Rights Agreement"), between Nobel
Learning Communities, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
Stocktrans, Inc., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"). Terms defined in the
Rights Agreement and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, on May 16, 2000, the Board of Directors of the Company
authorized the issuance of Rights to purchase, on the terms and subject to the
provisions of the Rights Agreement, shares of the Company's Preferred Stock;

         WHEREAS, on May 16, 2000, the Board of Directors of the Company
authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one Right for every share of
Common Stock of the Company outstanding on the Record Date and authorized the
issuance of one Right (subject to certain adjustments) for each share of Common
Stock of the Company issued between the Record Date and the Distribution Date;

         WHEREAS, the Distribution Date has not occurred; and

         WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 27 of the Rights Agreement, the Board of
Directors of the Company has approved an amendment of certain provisions of the
Rights Agreement as set forth below;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Rights Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

         1.       Amendment to definition of "Acquiring Person." Section 1(a)
(ii) is amended by inserting the following paragraph at the end of such
Section 1(a) (ii):

                  "Prior to a Termination Event, none of (a) A. J. Clegg, John
                  Frock, Robert Zobel, Scott Clegg and their respective spouses,
                  subsidiaries, Associates and Affiliates (each an "Insider"),
                  (b) Socrates Acquisition Corporation, Cadigan Investment
                  Partners, Inc., Gryphon Partners II, L.P. and their
                  respective, subsidiaries, Associates and Affiliates (each a
                  "Sponsor") or (c) any lenders which participate with any of
                  the Sponsors (the "Other Lenders" and collectively with the
                  Insiders and the Sponsors, the "Exempted Persons"), either
                  individually, collectively or in any combination shall be
                  or be deemed to be an Acquiring Person as a result of the
                  formation of a group consisting of Exempted Persons in
                  connection with the discussions and negotiations between the
                  Exempted Persons and the special committee of the Board of
                  Directors of the Company regarding a consensual merger
                  transaction (the "Transaction Discussion"). A "Termination
                  Event" shall be deemed to have occurred on the second business
                  day after receipt of written

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                  notice from the Company to the Sponsors that discussions
                  between the Company and the Sponsors regarding a contemplated
                  merger between one or more of such Sponsors and the Company
                  are terminated without the Sponsors and the Company having
                  executed a definitive agreement."

         2.       Amendment to definition of "Beneficial Owner."  Section 1(d)
of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following paragraph
at the end of such Section 1(d):

                  "Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1(d) to the
                  contrary, prior to a Termination Event none of the Exempted
                  Persons, either individually, collectively or in any
                  combination, shall be deemed to be a beneficial owner of or to
                  beneficially own any securities beneficially owned, directly
                  or indirectly, by any other Exempted Person regardless of any
                  agreements, arrangements or understandings among any Exempted
                  Persons in connection with the Transaction Discussion."

         3.       Amendment to Section 27.  Section 27 of the Rights Agreement
is hereby amended by inserting the following sentence at the end of such
Section 27:

                  "Notwithstanding anything in this Section 27 to the contrary,
                  prior to a Termination Event the Company shall not supplement
                  or amend any of the provisions or amendments contained in
                  Amendment No. 1 to the Rights Agreement without the prior
                  written consent of the Sponsors, unless the Company and one or
                  more of the Sponsors do not enter into a definitive agreement
                  with respect to a merger between the Company and one or more
                  Sponsors on or before August 15, 2002."

         4.       Effectiveness.  This Amendment shall be deemed effective as of
the date first written above, as if executed on such date. Except as amended
hereby, the Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall be
otherwise unaffected hereby.

         5.       Miscellaneous. This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract
made under the laws of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such state applicable to contracts to
be made and performed entirely within such state without giving effect to the
principles of conflict of laws thereof. This Amendment may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument. If any provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority
to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions of this Amendment shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

          [The Remainder of the Page has been Intentionally Left Blank]

                                       -2-

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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment No. 1
to the Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above
written.

                                         NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES, INC.

                                         By: /s/ Peter Havens
                                             -----------------------------------
                                         Title: Director

Attest:

By:/s/ John Frock
   ---------------------------------

                                         STOCKTRANS, INC.

                                         By: /s/ Jonathan Miller
                                             -----------------------------------
                                         Title: President

Attest:

By:/s/ Christina Bastas
   ---------------------------------
Title:  Executive Vice President

                                      -3-<PAGE>

                                                                     Exhibit 4.2

                             AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE
                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                       OF NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES, INC.

     This Amendment No. 2, dated as of August 5, 2002, amends the Rights
Agreement dated as of May 16, 2000 as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of
August 4, 2002 (as amended and in effect from time to time, the "Rights
Agreement"), between Nobel Learning Communities, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and Stocktrans, Inc., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Terms defined in the Rights Agreement and not otherwise defined herein are used
herein as so defined.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS, on May 16, 2000, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized
the issuance of Rights to purchase, on the terms and subject to the provisions
of the Rights Agreement, shares of the Company's Preferred Stock;

     WHEREAS, on May 16, 2000, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized
and declared a dividend distribution of one Right for every share of Common
Stock of the Company outstanding on the Record Date and authorized the issuance
of one Right (subject to certain adjustments) for each share of Common Stock of
the Company issued between the Record Date and the Distribution Date;

     WHEREAS, on August 4, 2002 the Board of Directors of the Company approved
Amendment No. 1 to the Rights Agreement;

     WHEREAS, the Distribution Date has not occurred; and

     WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 27 of the Rights Agreement, the Board of
Directors of the Company has approved an amendment of certain provisions of the
Rights Agreement as set forth below;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the Rights Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

     1.   Amendments to Section 1 of the Rights Agreement.

          (a)    Additional Definitions. Section 1 of the Rights Agreement is
          hereby amended by inserting the following subsections at the end of
          such Section 1:

                 "(kk)  "Merger" shall have the meaning set forth in the Merger
                 Agreement."

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               "(ll) "Merger Agreement" shall mean the Agreement and Plan of
               Merger dated as of August 5, 2002 by and between Socrates
               Acquisition Corporation and the Company, as amended from time to
               time."

               "(mm) "Rollover Stockholders" shall have the meaning set forth in
               the Merger Agreement."

          (b)  Amendments to definition of "Acquiring Person."

               (i)    Section 1(a)(i) is amended by restating it as follows:

          "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person or group, together with all
          Affiliates and Associates of such Person or a Person that is a member
          of such group, who or which acquires a number of shares of Common
          Stock that is equal to (A) thirteen percent (13%) or more of the
          shares of Common Stock then outstanding, in the case of a Person or
          group that as of May 16, 2000 was a Beneficial Owner of ten percent
          (10%) or less of the Common Stock outstanding as of May 16, 2000, (B)
          an additional three percent (3%) of the Common Stock then outstanding,
          in the case of a Person or group that as of May 16, 2000 was a
          Beneficial Owner of greater than ten percent (10%), but less than
          seventeen percent (17%), of the Common Stock outstanding as of May 16,
          2000, (C) twenty percent (20%) or more of the Common Stock then
          outstanding, in the case of a Person or group that as of May 16, 2000
          was a Beneficial Owner of at least seventeen percent (17%), but no
          greater than twenty percent (20%), of the Common Stock outstanding as
          of May 16, 2000 or (D) a greater percentage of the Common Stock then
          outstanding than is currently owned by such Person or group, in the
          case of a person or group that as of May 16, 2000 was a Beneficial
          Owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of the Common Stock outstanding
          as of May 16, 2000."

               (ii)   Section 1(a)(ii) is amended by replacing the last
paragraph of Section 1(a)(ii) with the following:

          "Prior to a Termination Event, none of (a) A. J. Clegg, John Frock,
          Robert Zobel, Scott Clegg and their respective spouses, subsidiaries,
          Associates and Affiliates (each an "Insider"), (b) Socrates
          Acquisition Corporation, Cadigan Investment Partners, Inc., Gryphon
          Partners II, L.P. and their respective, subsidiaries, Associates and
          Affiliates (each a "Sponsor"), (c) any lenders which participate with
          any of the Sponsors (the "Other Lenders"), or (d) other Rollover
          Stockholders (collectively with the Insiders, the Sponsors and the
          Other Lenders, the "Exempted Persons") either individually,
          collectively or in any combination shall be or be deemed to be an
          Acquiring Person by virtue of or as a result of (i) actions taken in
          furtherance of the formation of a group consisting solely of Exempted
          Persons in connection with the Merger Agreement and the transactions

                                       -2-

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          contemplated thereby, (ii) the execution of the Merger Agreement,
          (iii) the acquisition of any shares of capital stock of the Company
          pursuant to the Merger Agreement or the consummation of the Merger, or
          (iv) the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by the
          Merger Agreement. A "Termination Event" shall be deemed to have
          occurred immediately upon the termination of the Merger Agreement in
          accordance with its terms."

     2.   Amendment to definition of "Beneficial Owner." Section 1(d) of the
Rights Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the last paragraph of such
Section 1(d) with the following:

          "Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1(d) to the contrary, prior
          to a Termination Event, none of the Exempted Persons, either
          individually, collectively or in any combination, shall be deemed to
          be a beneficial owner of or to beneficially own any securities
          beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Exempted
          Person regardless of any agreements, arrangements or understandings
          among any Exempted Persons, by virtue of or as a result of (i) actions
          taken in furtherance of the formation of a group consisting solely of
          Exempted Persons in connection with the Merger Agreement and the
          transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) the execution of the Merger
          Agreement, (iii) the acquisition of any shares of capital stock of the
          Company pursuant to the Merger Agreement or the consummation of the
          Merger, or (iv) the consummation of the other transactions
          contemplated by the Merger Agreement."

     3.   Amendment to Section 3(a). Section 3(a) of the Rights Agreement is
hereby amended by inserting the following sentence at the end of such Section
3(a):

          "Notwithstanding anything in this Rights Agreement to the contrary, a
          Distribution Date shall not be deemed to have occurred solely by
          virtue of (a) the execution of the Merger Agreement, (b) the
          acquisition of any shares of capital stock of the Company pursuant to
          the Merger Agreement or the consummation of the Merger or (c) the
          consummation of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger
          Agreement."

     4.   Amendment to Section 3(c). Section 3(c) of the Rights Agreement is
hereby amended by deleting the first sentence of the legend and replacing it
with the following:

          "This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
          certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between Nobel
          Learning Communities, Inc. (the "Company") and Stocktrans, Inc. (the
          "Rights Agent"), dated as of May 16, 2000, as amended from time to
          time (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby
          incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the
          principal offices of the Company."

                                       -3-

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     5.   Amendment to Section 7. Section 7(a) of the Rights Agreement is hereby
amended to read in its entirety as follows:

          "(a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, at any time after, but not
          before, the Distribution Date the registered holder of any Rights
          Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
          otherwise provided herein including, without limitation, the
          restrictions on exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section
          11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a) hereof) in whole or in part upon
          surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to
          purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly
          executed, to the Rights Agent at the principal office or offices of
          the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment of
          the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of one
          one-hundredths of a share (or other securities, cash or other assets,
          as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are then
          exercisable, at or prior to the earlier of (i) 5:00 P.M., New York
          City time, on May 31, 2010, or such later date as may be established
          by the Board of Directors prior to the expiration of the Rights (such
          date, as it may be extended by the Board, the ("Final Expiration
          Date"), (ii) the date on which a Merger is consummated or (iii) the
          time at which the Rights are redeemed or exchanged as provided in
          Section 23 and Section 24 hereof (the earlier of (i) (ii) and (iii)
          being herein referred to as the "Expiration Date").

     6.   Amendment to Section 27. Section 27 of the Rights Agreement is hereby
amended by replacing the last sentence of such Section 27 with the following:

          "Notwithstanding anything in this Section 27 to the contrary, the
          Company shall not supplement or amend any of the provisions or
          amendments contained in Amendment No. 2 to the Rights Agreement
          without the prior written consent of the Sponsors, unless the Merger
          Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its terms and
          notice of such termination shall have been given to Socrates
          Acquisition Corporation."

     7.   Effectiveness. This Amendment shall be deemed effective as of the date
first written above, as if executed on such date. Except as amended hereby, the
Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall be otherwise
unaffected hereby.

     8.   Miscellaneous. This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract made
under the laws of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such state applicable to contracts to
be made and performed entirely within such state without giving effect to the
principles of conflict of laws thereof. This Amendment may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument. If any provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority
to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remainder of

                                       -4-

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the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Amendment shall remain
in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or
invalidated.

          [The Remainder of the Page has been Intentionally Left Blank]

                                       -5-

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment No. 2 to
the Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above
written.

                                            NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES, INC.

                                            By: /s/ Peter Havens
                                                -------------------------
                                            Title:   Director

Attest:

By:/s/ John Frock
   -------------------------

                                            STOCKTRANS, INC.

                                            By: /s/ Jonathan Miller
                                                -------------------------
                                            Title:  President

Attest:

By:_________________________

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