Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.5

                        THE LIGHTSPAN PARTNERSHIP, INC.

                          EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

              ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON OCTOBER 28, 1999
                APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS ON JANUARY 28, 2000
          ADJUSTED FOR 1 FOR 2 REVERSE STOCK SPLIT ON JANUARY 31, 2000
                        EFFECTIVE DATE FEBRUARY 9, 2000
                           AMENDED ON DECEMBER 5, 2000
                     PLAN TERMINATION DATE OCTOBER 27, 2009

1.     PURPOSE.

       (a) The purpose of this Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") is to
provide a means by which employees of The Lightspan Partnership, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and its Affiliates, as defined in
subparagraph 1(b), which are designated as provided in subparagraph 2(b), may be
given an opportunity to purchase stock of the Company.

       (b) The word "Affiliate" as used in the Plan means any parent corporation
or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined in Sections
424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code").

       (c) The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of
its employees, to secure and retain the services of new employees, and to
provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of
the Company.

       (d) The Company intends that the rights to purchase stock of the Company
granted under the Plan be considered options issued under an "employee stock
purchase plan" as that term is defined in Section 423(b) of the Code.

2.     ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors (the
"Board") of the Company unless and until the Board delegates administration to a
Committee, as provided in subparagraph 2(c). Whether or not the Board has
delegated administration, the Board shall have the final power to determine all
questions of policy and expediency that may arise in the administration of the
Plan.

       (b) The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the
limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

              (i) To determine when and how rights to purchase stock of the
Company shall be granted and the provisions of each offering of such rights
(which need not be identical).

              (ii) To designate from time to time which Affiliates of the
Company shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.

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              (iii) To construe and interpret the Plan and rights granted under
it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its
administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any
defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan, in a manner and to the extent it
shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan fully effective.

              (iv) To amend the Plan as provided in paragraph 13.

              (v) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as
the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the
Company and its Affiliates and to carry out the intent that the Plan be treated
as an "employee stock purchase plan" within the meaning of Section 423 of the
Code.

       (c) The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee
composed of one (1) or more members of the Board (the "Committee"). If
administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in
connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed
by the Board, subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The
Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the
administration of the Plan.

       (d) Any interpretation of the Plan by the Board of any decision made by
it under the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons.

3.     SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

       (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 12 relating to adjustments
upon changes in stock, the stock that may be sold pursuant to rights granted
under the Plan shall not exceed in the aggregate 500,000 shares of the Company's
common stock (the "Common Stock") plus an annual increase to be added on
February 1 of each year beginning in 2001, equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the
Company's outstanding shares on such date (rounded to the nearest whole share
and calculated on a fully diluted basis, that is assuming the exercise of all
outstanding stock options and warrants to purchase common stock) or (ii) 10% of
the Company's outstanding shares on the effective date of the Plan. If any right
granted under the Plan shall for any reason terminate without having been
exercised, the Common Stock not purchased under such right shall again become
available for the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may designate a
smaller number of shares of Common Stock to be added to the share reserve as of
February 1 of a particular year.

       (b) The stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or reacquired
shares, bought on the market or otherwise.

4.     GRANT OF RIGHTS; OFFERING.

       (a) The Board or the Committee may from time to time grant or provide for
the grant of rights to purchase Common Stock of the Company under the Plan to
eligible employees (an "Offering") on a date or dates (the "Offering Date(s)")
selected by the Board or the Committee. Each Offering shall be in such form and
shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board or the Committee shall deem
appropriate, which shall comply with the requirements of Section

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423(b)(5) of the Code that all employees granted rights to purchase stock under
the Plan shall have the same rights and privileges. The terms and conditions of
an Offering shall be incorporated by reference into the Plan and treated as part
of the Plan. The provisions of separate Offerings need not be identical, but
each Offering shall include (through incorporation of the provisions of this
Plan by reference in the document comprising the Offering or otherwise) the
period during which the Offering shall be effective, which period shall not
exceed twenty-seven (27) months beginning with the Offering Date, and the
substance of the provisions contained in paragraphs 5 through 8, inclusive.

       (b) If an employee has more than one (1) right outstanding under the
Plan, unless he or she otherwise indicates in agreements or notices delivered
hereunder, a right with a lower exercise price (or an earlier-granted right if
two (2) rights have identical exercise prices), will be exercised to the fullest
possible extent before a right with a higher exercise price (or a later-granted
right if two (2) rights have identical exercise prices) will be exercised.

5.     ELIGIBILITY.

       (a) Rights may be granted only to employees of the Company or, as the
Board or the Committee may designate as provided in subparagraph 2(b), to
employees of any Affiliate of the Company. Except as provided in subparagraph
5(b), an employee of the Company or any Affiliate shall not be eligible to be
granted rights under the Plan unless, on the Offering Date, such employee has
been in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate for such continuous period
preceding such grant as the Board or the Committee may require, but in no event
shall the required period of continuous employment be greater than two (2)
years. In addition, unless otherwise determined by the Board or the Committee
and set forth in the terms of the applicable Offering, no employee of the
Company or any Affiliate shall be eligible to be granted rights under the Plan
unless, on the Offering Date, such employee's customary employment with the
Company or such Affiliate is for at least twenty (20) hours per week and at
least five (5) months per calendar year.

       (b) The Board or the Committee may provide that each person who, during
the course of an Offering, first becomes an eligible employee of the Company or
designated Affiliate will, on a date or dates specified in the Offering which
coincides with the day on which such person becomes an eligible employee or
occurs thereafter, receive a right under that Offering, which right shall
thereafter be deemed to be a part of that Offering. Such right shall have the
same characteristics as any rights originally granted under that Offering, as
described herein, except that:

              (i) the date on which such right is granted shall be the "Offering
Date" of such right for all purposes, including determination of the exercise
price of such right;

              (ii) the period of the Offering with respect to such right shall
begin on its Offering Date and end coincident with the end of such Offering; and

              (iii) the Board or the Committee may provide that if such person
first becomes an eligible employee within a specified period of time before the
end of the Offering, he or she will not receive any right under that Offering.

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       (c) No employee shall be eligible for the grant of any rights under the
Plan if, immediately after any such rights are granted, such employee owns stock
possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value
of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Affiliate. For purposes of this
subparagraph 5(c), the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply in
determining the stock ownership of any employee, and stock which such employee
may purchase under all outstanding rights and options shall be treated as stock
owned by such employee.

       (d) An eligible employee may be granted rights under the Plan only if
such rights, together with any other rights granted under "employee stock
purchase plans" of the Company and any Affiliates, as specified by Section
423(b)(8) of the Code, do not permit such employee's rights to purchase stock of
the Company or any Affiliate to accrue at a rate which exceeds twenty five
thousand dollars ($25,000) of fair market value of such stock (determined at the
time such rights are granted) for each calendar year in which such rights are
outstanding at any time.

       (e) Officers of the Company and any designated Affiliate shall be
eligible to participate in Offerings under the Plan; provided, however, that the
Board may provide in an Offering that certain employees who are highly
compensated employees within the meaning of Section 423(b)(4)(D) of the Code
shall not be eligible to participate.

6.     RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE.

       (a) On each Offering Date, each eligible employee, pursuant to an
Offering made under the Plan, shall be granted the right to purchase up to the
number of shares of Common Stock of the Company purchasable with a percentage
designated by the Board or the Committee not exceeding fifteen percent (15%) of
such employee's Earnings (as defined in subparagraph 7(a)) during the period
which begins on the Offering Date (or such later date as the Board or the
Committee determines for a particular Offering) and ends on the date stated in
the Offering, which date shall be no later than the end of the Offering. The
Board or the Committee shall establish one (1) or more dates during an Offering
(the "Purchase Date(s)") on which rights granted under the Plan shall be
exercised and purchases of Common Stock carried out in accordance with such
Offering.

       (b) In connection with each Offering made under the Plan, the Board or
the Committee may specify a maximum number of shares that may be purchased by
any employee as well as a maximum aggregate number of shares that may be
purchased by all eligible employees pursuant to such Offering. In addition, in
connection with each Offering that contains more than one (1) Purchase Date, the
Board or the Committee may specify a maximum aggregate number of shares which
may be purchased by all eligible employees on any given Purchase Date under the
Offering. If the aggregate purchase of shares upon exercise of rights granted
under the Offering would exceed any such maximum aggregate number, the Board or
the Committee shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares available in as
nearly a uniform manner as shall be practicable and as it shall deem to be
equitable.

       (c) The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to rights granted under
the Plan shall be not less than the lesser of:

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              (i) an amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair
market value of the stock on the Offering Date; or

              (ii) an amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair
market value of the stock on the Purchase Date.

7.     PARTICIPATION; WITHDRAWAL; TERMINATION.

       (a) An eligible employee may become a participant in the Plan pursuant to
an Offering by delivering an enrollment agreement to the Company within the time
specified in the Offering, in such form as the Company provides. Each such
agreement shall authorize payroll deductions of up to the maximum percentage
specified by the Board or the Committee of such employee's Earnings during the
Offering. "Earnings" is defined as an employee's regular salary or wages
(including amounts thereof elected to be deferred by the employee, that would
otherwise have been paid, under any arrangement established by the Company that
is intended to comply with Section 125, Section 401(k), Section 402(e)(3),
Section 402(h) or section 403(b) of the Code, and also including any deferrals
under a non-qualified deferred compensation plan or arrangement established by
the Company), and also, if determined by the Board or the Committee and set
forth in the terms of the Offering, may include any or all of the following: (i)
overtime pay, (ii) commissions, (iii) bonuses, incentive pay, profit sharing and
other remuneration paid directly to the employee, and/or (iv) other items of
remuneration not specifically excluded pursuant to the Plan. Earnings shall not
include the cost of employee benefits paid for by the Company or an Affiliate,
education or tuition reimbursements, imputed income arising under any group
insurance or benefit program, traveling expenses, business and moving expense
reimbursements, income received in connection with stock options, contributions
made by the Company or an Affiliate under any employee benefit plan, and similar
items of compensation, as determined by the Board or the Committee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or Committee may modify the definition
of "Earnings" with respect to one or more Offerings as the Board or Committee
determines appropriate. The payroll deductions made for each participant shall
be credited to an account for such participant under the Plan and shall be
deposited with the general funds of the Company. A participant may reduce
(including to zero) or increase such payroll deductions, and an eligible
employee may begin such payroll deductions, after the beginning of any Offering
only as provided for in the Offering. A participant may make additional payments
into his or her account only if specifically provided for in the Offering and
only if the participant has not had the maximum amount withheld during the
Offering.

       (b) At any time during an Offering, a participant may terminate his or
her payroll deductions under the Plan and withdraw from the Offering by
delivering to the Company a notice of withdrawal in such form as the Company
provides. Such withdrawal may be elected at any time prior to the end of the
Offering except as provided by the Board or the Committee in the Offering. Upon
such withdrawal from the Offering by a participant, the Company shall distribute
to such participant all of his or her accumulated payroll deductions (reduced to
the extent, if any, such deductions have been used to acquire stock for the
participant) under the Offering, without interest, and such participant's
interest in that Offering shall be automatically terminated. A participant's
withdrawal from an Offering will have no effect upon such participant's
eligibility to participate in any other Offerings under the Plan but such
participant

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will be required to deliver a new enrollment agreement in order to participate
in subsequent Offerings under the Plan.

       (c) Rights granted pursuant to any Offering under the Plan shall
terminate immediately upon cessation of any participating employee's employment
with the Company and any designated Affiliate, for any reason, and the Company
shall distribute to such terminated employee all of his or her accumulated
payroll deductions (reduced to the extent, if any, such deductions have been
used to acquire stock for the terminated employee), under the Offering, without
interest.

       (d) Rights granted under the Plan shall not be transferable by a
participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or by a
beneficiary designation as provided in paragraph 14, and during a participant's
lifetime, shall be exercisable only by such participant.

8.     EXERCISE.

       (a) On each Purchase Date specified therefor in the relevant Offering,
each participant's accumulated payroll deductions and other additional payments
specifically provided for in the Offering (without any increase for interest)
will be applied to the purchase of whole shares of stock of the Company, up to
the maximum number of shares permitted pursuant to the terms of the Plan and the
applicable Offering, at the purchase price specified in the Offering. No
fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of rights granted under the
Plan. The amount, if any, of accumulated payroll deductions remaining in each
participant's account after the purchase of shares which is less than the amount
required to purchase one share of Common Stock on the final Purchase Date of an
Offering shall be held in each such participant's account for the purchase of
shares under the next Offering under the Plan, unless such participant withdraws
from such next Offering, as provided in subparagraph 7(b), or is no longer
eligible to be granted rights under the Plan, as provided in paragraph 5, in
which case such amount shall be distributed to the participant after such final
Purchase Date, without interest. The amount, if any, of accumulated payroll
deductions remaining in any participant's account after the purchase of shares
which is equal to the amount required to purchase one or more whole shares of
Common Stock on the final Purchase Date of an Offering shall be distributed in
full to the participant after such Purchase Date, without interest.

       (b) No rights granted under the Plan may be exercised to any extent
unless the shares to be issued upon such exercise under the Plan (including
rights granted thereunder) are covered by an effective registration statement
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and
the Plan is in material compliance with all applicable state, foreign and other
securities and other laws applicable to the Plan. If on a Purchase Date in any
Offering hereunder the Plan is not so registered or in such compliance, no
rights granted under the Plan or any Offering shall be exercised on such
Purchase Date, and the Purchase Date shall be delayed until the Plan is subject
to such an effective registration statement and such compliance, except that the
Purchase Date shall not be delayed more than twelve (12) months and the Purchase
Date shall in no event be more than twenty-seven (27) months from the Offering
Date. If on the Purchase Date of any Offering hereunder, as delayed to the
maximum extent permissible, the Plan is not registered and in such compliance,
no rights granted under the Plan or any Offering shall be exercised and all
payroll deductions accumulated during the Offering (reduced to the

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extent, if any, such deductions have been used to acquire stock) shall be
distributed to the participants, without interest.

9.     COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

       (a) During the terms of the rights granted under the Plan, the Company
shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock required
to satisfy such rights.

       (b) The Company shall seek to obtain from each federal, state, foreign or
other regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such
authority as may be required to issue and sell shares of stock upon exercise of
the rights granted under the Plan. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is
unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority
which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale
of stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for
failure to issue and sell stock upon exercise of such rights unless and until
such authority is obtained.

10.    USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.

       Proceeds from the sale of stock pursuant to rights granted under the Plan
shall constitute general funds of the Company.

11.    RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER.

       A participant shall not be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of
the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares subject to rights granted
under the Plan unless and until the participant's shareholdings acquired upon
exercise of rights under the Plan are recorded in the books of the Company (or
its transfer agent).

12.    ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK.

       (a) If any change is made in the stock subject to the Plan, or subject to
any rights granted under the Plan (through merger, consolidation,
reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, dividend in property other
than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of
shares, change in corporate structure or other transaction not involving the
receipt of consideration by the Company), the Plan and outstanding rights will
be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and maximum number of shares subject
to the Plan and the class(es) and number of shares and price per share of stock
subject to outstanding rights. Such adjustments shall be made by the Board or
the Committee, the determination of which shall be final, binding and
conclusive. (The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall
not be treated as a "transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by
the Company.")

       (b) In the event of: (1) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company; (2)
a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; (3) a merger or
consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation; (4) a
reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares
of the Company's Common Stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger are
converted by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of
securities, cash or otherwise; (5) the acquisition by any person, entity or
group within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the

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"Exchange Act"), or any comparable successor provisions (excluding any employee
benefit plan, or related trust, sponsored or maintained by the Company or any
Affiliate of the Company) of the beneficial ownership (within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, or comparable successor rule) of
securities of the Company representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the
combined voting power entitled to vote in the election of directors; or (6) the
individuals who, as of the date of the adoption of this Plan, are members of the
Board (the "Incumbent Board"; (if the election, or nomination for election by
the Company's stockholders, of a new director was approved by a vote of at least
fifty percent (50%) of the members of the Board then comprising the Incumbent
Board, such new director shall upon his or her election be considered a member
of the Incumbent Board) cease for any reason to constitute at least fifty
percent (50%) of the Board; then the Board in its sole discretion may take any
action or arrange for the taking of any action among the following: (i) any
surviving or acquiring corporation may assume outstanding rights or substitute
similar rights for those under the Plan, (ii) such rights may continue in full
force and effect, or (iii) all participants' accumulated payroll deductions may
be used to purchase Common Stock immediately prior to or within a reasonable
period of time following the transaction described above and the participants'
rights under the ongoing Offering terminated.

13.    AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN OR OFFERINGS.

       (a) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan or
the terms of one or more Offerings. However, except as provided in paragraph 12
relating to adjustments upon changes in stock, no amendment shall be effective
unless approved by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months
before or after the adoption of the amendment, where the amendment will:

              (i) Increase the number of shares reserved for rights under the
Plan;

              (ii) Modify the provisions as to eligibility for participation in
the Plan or an Offering (to the extent such modification requires stockholder
approval in order for the Plan to obtain employee stock purchase plan treatment
under Section 423 of the Code or to comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act, or any comparable successor rule ("Rule
16b-3"); or

              (iii) Modify the Plan or an Offering in any other way if such
modification requires stockholder approval in order for the Plan to obtain
employee stock purchase plan treatment under Section 423 of the Code or to
comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3.

It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan or an Offering in
any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible employees
with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the
Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to employee stock
purchase plans and/or to bring the Plan and/or rights granted under an Offering
into compliance therewith.

       (b) The Board may, in its sole discretion, submit any amendment to the
Plan or an Offering for stockholder approval.

                                       8.
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       (c) Rights and obligations under any rights granted before amendment of
the Plan or Offering shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan, except
with the consent of the person to whom such rights were granted, or except as
necessary to comply with any laws or governmental regulations, or except as
necessary to ensure that the Plan and/or rights granted under an Offering comply
with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

14.    DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY.

       (a) A participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is
to receive any shares and cash, if applicable, from the participant's account
under the Plan in the event of such participant's death subsequent to the end of
an Offering but prior to delivery to the participant of such shares and cash. In
addition, a participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is
to receive any cash from the participant's account under the Plan in the event
of such participant's death during an Offering.

       (b) Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the participant at
any time by written notice in the form prescribed by the Company. In the event
of the death of a participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly
designated under the Plan who is living (or if an entity, is otherwise in
existence) at the time of such participant's death, the Company shall deliver
such shares and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of the
participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the
knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its sole discretion, may deliver such
shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one (1) or more dependents or
relatives of the participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to
the Company, then to such other person as the Company may determine.

15.    TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.

       (a) The Board in its discretion may suspend or terminate the Plan at any
time. The Plan shall automatically terminate upon the earlier of (i) the day
before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board
or approved by the stockholders of the Company, whichever is earlier; or (ii) if
all the shares subject to the Plan pursuant to subparagraph 3(a) are issued. No
rights may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is
terminated.

       (b) Rights and obligations under any rights granted while the Plan is in
effect shall not be impaired by suspension or termination of the Plan, except as
expressly provided in the Plan or with the consent of the person to whom such
rights were granted, or except as necessary to comply with any laws or
governmental regulation, or except as necessary to ensure that the Plan and/or
rights granted under an Offering comply with the requirements of Section 423 of
the Code.

16.    EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.

       The Plan shall become effective on the same day on which the Company's
registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the initial
public offering of shares of the Company's Common Stock becomes effective (the
"Effective Date"), but no rights granted under the Plan shall be exercised
unless and until the Plan had been approved by the stockholders

                                       9.
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of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is
adopted by the Board or the Committee, which date may be prior to the Effective
Date.

17.    CHOICE OF LAW.

       All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of
this Plan shall be governed by the law of the State of CALIFORNIA, without
regard to such state's conflict of laws rules.

                                      10.
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                        THE LIGHTSPAN PARTNERSHIP, INC.
                      EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN OFFERING

              ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON OCTOBER 28, 2000

1.      GRANT; OFFERING DATE.

        (a) The Board of Directors (the "Board") of The Lightspan Partnership,
Inc. (the "Company"), pursuant to the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan
(the "Plan"), hereby authorizes the grant of rights to purchase shares of the
common stock of the Company ("Common Stock") to all Eligible Employees (an
"Offering"). The first Offering shall begin on the effective date of the initial
public offering of the Company's Common Stock and end on December 31, 2001 (the
"Initial Offering"). Thereafter, an Offering shall begin on January 1, 2002 and
on each January 1 every second year thereafter, and each such offering shall end
on the day prior to the second anniversary of its Offering Date. The first day
of an Offering is that Offering's "Offering Date."

        (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) if any Offering Date falls on a
day that is not a Trading Day (as defined herein), then such Offering Date shall
instead fall on the next subsequent Trading Day and (ii) if any Purchase (as
defined in Section 6, below) Date falls on a day that is not a Trading Day, then
such Purchase Date shall instead fall on the immediately preceding Trading Day.
"Trading Day" shall mean any day the exchange(s) or market(s) on which the
Common Stock is listed, whether it be any established stock exchange, The Nasdaq
National Market, The Nasdaq SmallCap Market or otherwise, is open for trading.

        (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event that the Fair
Market Value (as defined herein) of a share of Common Stock on any Purchase Date
during an Offering is less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock
on the Offering Date of such Offering, then following the purchase of Common
Stock on such Purchase Date: (i) the Offering shall terminate and (ii) all
participants in the just-terminated Offering shall automatically be enrolled in
the Offering that shall commence on the next Trading Day following the Purchase
Date. Except as provided in paragraph 4, "Fair Market Value" shall mean the
closing sales price for the Common Stock (or the closing bid price, if no sales
were reported) as quoted on any established stock exchange or traded on the
Nasdaq National Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market and as reported in The Wall
Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable.

        (d) Prior to the commencement of any Offering, the Board (or the
Committee described in subparagraph 2(c) of the Plan, if any) may change any or
all terms of such Offering and any subsequent Offerings. The granting of rights
pursuant to each Offering hereunder shall occur on each respective Offering Date
unless, prior to such date (a) the Board (or the Committee) determines that such
Offering shall not occur, or (b) no shares remain available for issuance under
the Plan in connection with the Offering.

        (e) Notwithstanding any other provisions of an Offering, if the terms of
an Offering as previously established by the Board would, as a result of a
change to applicable accounting standards, as a result of obtaining shareholder
approval during such Offering for shares of

                                       1.
<PAGE>   12

Common Stock that would be issued under such Offering (but for the provisions of
this Section 1(e)), or otherwise, generate a charge to earnings, such Offering
shall terminate effective as of the earlier of (1) the day prior to the date
such change of accounting standards would otherwise first apply to the Offering
or (2) the day prior to the date upon which the maximum aggregate number of
shares of Common Stock available to be purchased by all Eligible Employees under
such Offering (excluding any additional shares of Common Stock made available
for issuance under the Plan by approval of the shareholders of the Company
during the Offering) exceeds the aggregate number of whole shares purchasable by
all Eligible Employees based upon the aggregate of such Employees' payroll
deductions accumulated pursuant to such Offering (the "Offering Termination
Date"), and such Offering Termination Date shall be the final Purchase Date of
such Offering. A subsequent Offering shall commence on such date and on such
terms as shall be provided by the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.      ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES.

        (a) All employees of the Company and each of its Affiliates (as defined
in the Plan) incorporated in the United States, shall be granted rights to
purchase Common Stock under each Offering on the Offering Date of such Offering,
provided that each such employee otherwise meets the employment requirements of
subparagraph 5(a) of the Plan and has been continuously employed by the Company
or an Affiliate for at least one (1) month (an "Eligible Employee") and that
each Eligible Employee may only contribute to one Offering at any given point in
time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following employees shall not be
Eligible Employees or be granted rights under an Offering: (i) part-time or
seasonal employees whose customary employment is less than twenty (20) hours per
week or five (5) months per calendar year and (ii) 5% stockholders (including
ownership through unexercised and/or unvested stock options) described in
subparagraph 5(c) of the Plan.

        (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, each person who first becomes an
Eligible Employee during any Offering and at least six (6) months prior to the
final Purchase Date (as defined in paragraph 6 hereof) of the Offering will, on
the next January 1 or July 1 during that Offering following the date that person
first becomes an Eligible Employee, receive a right under such Offering, which
right shall thereafter be deemed to be a part of the Offering. Such right shall
have the same characteristics as any rights originally granted under the
Offering except that:

            (i) the date on which such right is granted shall be the "Offering
Date" of such right for all purposes, including determination of the exercise
price of such right; and

            (ii) the Offering for such right shall begin on its Offering Date
and end coincident with the end of the ongoing Offering.

3.      RIGHTS.

        (a) Subject to the limitations contained herein and in the Plan, on each
Offering Date each Eligible Employee shall be granted the right to purchase the
number of shares of Common Stock purchasable with up to fifteen percent (15%) of
such employee's Earnings paid during the period of such Offering beginning after
such Eligible Employee first commences participation;

                                       2.
<PAGE>   13

provided, however, that no employee may purchase Common Stock on a particular
Purchase Date that would result in more than fifteen percent (15%) of such
employee's Earnings in the period from the Offering Date to such Purchase Date
having been applied to purchase shares under all ongoing Offerings under the
Plan and all other plans of the Company intended to qualify as "employee stock
purchase plans" under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"). For this Offering, "Earnings" means the base salary paid
to an employee (including all amounts elected to be deferred by the employee,
that would otherwise have been paid, under any cash or deferred arrangement
established by the Company), overtime pay, commissions and bonuses, but excludes
other remuneration paid directly to the employee, profit sharing, the cost of
employee benefits paid for by the Company, education or tuition reimbursements,
imputed income arising under any Company group insurance or benefit program,
traveling expenses, business and moving expense reimbursements, income received
in connection with stock options, contributions made by the Company under any
employee benefit plan, and similar items of compensation.

        (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the maximum number of shares of
Common Stock an Eligible Employee may purchase on any Purchase Date in an
Offering shall be such number of shares as has a Fair Market Value (determined
as of the Offering Date for such Offering) equal to (x) $25,000 multiplied by
the number of calendar years in which the right under such Offering has been
outstanding at any time, minus (y) the Fair Market Value of any other shares of
Common Stock (determined as of the relevant Offering Date with respect to such
shares) which, for purposes of the limitation of Section 423(b)(8) of the Code,
are attributed to any of such calendar years in which the right is outstanding.
The amount in clause (y) of the previous sentence shall be determined in
accordance with regulations applicable under Section 423(b)(8) of the Code based
on (i) the number of shares previously purchased with respect to such calendar
years pursuant to such Offering or any other Offering under the Plan, or
pursuant to any other Company plans intended to qualify as "employee stock
purchase plans" under Section 423 of the Code, and (ii) the number of shares
subject to other rights outstanding on the Offering Date for such Offering
pursuant to the Plan or any other such Company plan.

        (c) The maximum aggregate number of shares available to be purchased by
all Eligible Employees under an Offering shall be the number of shares remaining
available under the Plan on the Offering Date. If the aggregate purchase of
shares of Common Stock upon exercise of rights granted under the Offering would
exceed the maximum aggregate number of shares available, the Board shall make a
pro rata allocation of the shares available in a uniform and equitable manner.

4.      PURCHASE PRICE.

        The purchase price of the Common Stock under the Offering shall be the
lesser of: (i) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock on the Offering Date or (ii) or eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock on the Purchase Date, in each case rounded up
to the nearest whole cent per share. For the Initial Offering, the "Fair Market
Value" of the Common Stock at the time when the Offering commences shall be the
price per share at which shares of Common Stock are first sold to the public in
the Company's initial public offering as specified in the final prospectus with
respect to that public offering.

                                       3.
<PAGE>   14

5.      PARTICIPATION.

        (a) An Eligible Employee may elect to participate in an Offering at the
beginning of the Offering or at such later date specified in 2(b). An Eligible
Employee shall become a participant in an Offering by delivering an enrollment
form authorizing payroll deductions. Such deductions must be either a fixed
dollar amount per pay period, up to a maximum dollar amount which is less than
or equal to fifteen percent (15%) of Earnings, or in whole percentages of
Earnings, with a minimum percentage of one percent (1%) and a maximum percentage
of fifteen percent (15%). A participant may not make additional payments into
his or her account. The agreement shall be made on such enrollment form as the
Company provides, and must be delivered to the Company prior to the date
participation is to be effective, unless a later time for filing the enrollment
form is set by the Company for all Eligible Employees with respect to a given
Offering. For the Initial Offering, the time for filing an enrollment form and
commencing participation for individuals who are Eligible Employees on the
Offering Date for the Initial Offering shall be determined by the Company and
communicated to such Eligible Employees.

        (b) A participant may decrease his or her participation level during the
course of a six (6) month purchase interval one (1) time, and only by delivering
notice to the Company at least ten (10) days in advance of the Purchase Date in
such form as the Company prescribes; provided that a participant may (i) reduce
his or her deductions to zero percent (0%) upon ten (10) days' prior notice, or
within such shorter period as determined by the Board and communicated to the
participants, by delivering a notice in such form as the Company provides, (ii)
may increase or decrease his or her participation level at any time to become
effective on the day following the next subsequent Purchase Date, or (iii) may
withdraw from an Offering and receive his or her accumulated payroll deductions
from the Offering (reduced to the extent, if any, such deductions have been used
to acquire Common Stock for the participant on any prior Purchase Dates) without
interest, at any time prior to the end of the Offering, excluding only each ten
(10) day period immediately preceding a Purchase Date, by delivering a
withdrawal notice to the Company in such form as the Company provides. A
participant who has withdrawn from an Offering shall not again participate in
such Offering, but may participate in subsequent Offerings under the Plan in
accordance with the terms thereof.

6.      PURCHASES.

        Subject to the limitations contained herein, on each Purchase Date, each
participant's accumulated payroll deductions (without any increase for interest)
shall be applied to the purchase of whole shares of Common Stock, up to the
maximum number of shares permitted under the Plan and the Offering. "Purchase
Date" shall be defined as each June 30 and December 31. The first Purchase Date
under the Initial Offering shall be June 30, 2000. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if any Purchase Date falls on a day that is not a Trading Day, then
such Purchase Date shall instead fall on the immediately preceding Trading Day.

7.      NOTICES AND AGREEMENTS.

        Any notices or agreements provided for in an Offering or the Plan shall
be given in writing, in a form provided by the Company, and unless specifically
provided for in the Plan or this Offering, shall be deemed effectively given
upon receipt or, in the case of notices and

                                       4.
<PAGE>   15

agreements delivered by the Company, five (5) days after deposit in the United
States mail, postage prepaid.

8.      EXERCISE CONTINGENT ON STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL.

        The rights granted under an Offering are subject to the approval of the
Plan by the stockholders as required for the Plan to obtain treatment as a
tax-qualified employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 of the Code and to
comply with the requirements of an available exemption from potential liability
under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act") set forth in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

9.      OFFERING SUBJECT TO PLAN.

        Each Offering is subject to all the provisions of the Plan, and its
provisions are hereby made a part of the Offering, and is further subject to all
interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations which may from time to time
be promulgated and adopted pursuant to the Plan. In the event of any conflict
between the provisions of an Offering and those of the Plan (including
interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations which may from time to time
be promulgated and adopted pursuant to the Plan), the provisions of the Plan
shall control.

                                       5.<PAGE>   1

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.48

                              SEPARATION AGREEMENT

This Separation Agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered into by and between
MERRITT FARREN ("Farren") and LIGHTSPAN, INC. (the "Company"), as of the eighth
day after this Agreement is signed by Farren (the "Effective Date"). In order to
amicably resolve any disputes surrounding Farren's termination of employment
from the Company and to facilitate Farren's transition, Farren and the Company
hereby agree as follows:

1. SEPARATION DATE. Farren's last day of employment with the Company will be
February 9, 2001 (the "Separation Date").

2. ACCRUED SALARY AND VACATION. The Company agrees that it will pay Farren all
accrued salary, and all accrued and unused personal time off benefits earned
through the Separation Date, if any, subject to standard payroll deductions,
withholding taxes and other obligations. Farren is entitled to this payment
regardless of whether or not Farren signs this Agreement and whether or not this
Agreement becomes effective.

3. EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT. Within thirty (30) business days of Farren's execution
of this Agreement, Farren agrees that Farren will submit Farren's final
documented expense reimbursement statement reflecting all business expenses
Farren incurred prior to and including the Separation Date, if any, for which
Farren seeks reimbursement. The Company shall reimburse Farren's expenses
pursuant to Company policy and regular business practice.

4. SEVERANCE. Although the Company has no policy or procedure for providing
severance benefits, in exchange for the promises and covenants set forth herein,
and in consideration thereof, the Company agrees to make severance payments to
Farren, subject to Section 9 herein, in the form of continuation of Farren's
base salary in effect on the Separation Date, plus one-half of eligible bonus,
for 8.8 months from the Separation Date ("Severance Period"), pursuant to the
schedule attached hereto as Exhibit A. These payments will begin on the first
payroll date following the Effective Date of this Agreement and will be made on
the Company's ordinary payroll dates thereafter. The severance payments will be
subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings.

5. INSURANCE BENEFITS. Should Farren elect COBRA coverage, the Company will pay
the monthly premiums under COBRA to maintain Farren's group health insurance
(including medical and dental insurance) coverage at the same level as during
his employment until the earlier of: 1) the last day of the Severance Period; or
2) Farren begins full-time employment with another Company or entity. Farren's
contributions for medical, dental, and/or flexible spending accounts will
continue to be deducted from severance payments at the same level as during his
employment. After the Severance Period and to the extent provided by the federal
COBRA law or, if applicable, state insurance laws, and by the Company's current
group health insurance policies, Farren will be eligible to continue Farren's
health insurance benefits under COBRA at his own expense. Farren will be
provided with a separate notice of Farren's COBRA rights.

6. STOCK OPTIONS. Farren's stock options will terminate ninety (90) days after
the Separation Date if not exercised. Therefore, if Farren chooses to exercise
any of his vested stock options, he must do so within ninety (90) days of the
Separation Date.

                                       1
<PAGE>   2

7. OTHER COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS. Except as expressly provided herein, Farren
acknowledges and agrees that Farren is not entitled to and will not receive any
additional compensation, severance, stock options, stock or benefits from the
Company. Farren agrees and understands that all vesting under any stock
compensation award (e.g., incentive stock option, nonqualified stock option,
stock purchase agreement, or restricted stock bonus agreement) from the Company
shall cease upon the Separation Date. Any and all rights that Farren may have in
any Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Stock Option Plan or 401(k) Plan are
determined in accordance with the provisions of the applicable plan and any
agreements signed by Farren.

8. NON-SOLICITATION.

Farren agrees that during the Severance Period he will not, either directly or
through others, solicit or attempt to solicit any employee, consultant, or
independent contractor of the Company to terminate his or his relationship with
the Company in order to become an employee, consultant or independent contractor
to or for any other person or entity.

9. TERMINATION OF COMPANY'S OBLIGATIONS. Notwithstanding any provisions in this
Agreement to the contrary, the Company's obligations, and Farren's rights
pursuant to Section 4 herein, regarding the payment of severance, shall cease
and be rendered a nullity immediately should Farren fail to comply with any of
the provisions of Sections 8 and 12 herein.

10. NO FURTHER EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY. Farren understands and agrees that,
as a condition of this Agreement, Farren shall not be entitled to any employment
with the Company, its parents or subsidiaries, and Farren hereby waives any
right, or alleged right, of employment or re-employment with the Company and any
of its parents or subsidiaries. Farren further agrees that Farren will only be
eligible to apply for employment with the Company, its parents or subsidiaries,
if Farren obtains prior written consent from the Company, which consent may be
withheld for any reason or no reason.

11. COMPANY PROPERTY. Upon the Separation Date, Farren agrees to return to the
Company all Company documents (and all copies thereof) and other Company
property in Farren possession or Farren's control, including, but not limited
to, Company files, business plans, notes, samples, sales notebooks, drawings,
specifications, calculations, sequences, data, computer-recorded information,
tangible property, including, but not limited to, cellular phones, computers,
credit cards, entry cards, keys and any other materials of any nature pertaining
to Farren's work with the Company, and any documents or data of any description
(or any reproduction of any documents or data) containing or pertaining to any
proprietary or confidential material of the Company.

12. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OBLIGATIONS. Farren hereby acknowledges that Farren
has had access to confidential and proprietary information and trade secrets of
the Company in connection with Farren's relationship therewith. Farren hereby
acknowledges that such information includes, but is not limited to: (a)
inventions, developments, designs, applications, improvements, trade secrets,
formulae, know-how, methods or processes, discoveries, techniques, plans,
strategies and data (hereinafter "Inventions"); and (b) plans for research,
development, new products, marketing and selling, information regarding business
plans, budgets and unpublished financial statements, licenses, prices and costs,
information concerning

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

potential and existing suppliers and customers and information regarding the
skills and compensation of employees of the Company (collectively, with
Inventions, hereinafter referred to as "Proprietary Information"). In view of
the foregoing, Farren hereby agrees, warrants and acknowledges that:

       (a) Upon the Separation Date, Farren will surrender and deliver to the
Company all documents, notes, laboratory notebooks, drawings, specifications,
calculations, sequences, data and other materials of any nature pertaining to
Farren's work with the Company, and any documents or data of any description (or
any reproduction of any documents or data) containing or pertaining to any of
the foregoing Proprietary Information.

       (b) Farren has held and will continue to hold in confidence and trust all
Proprietary Information and shall not use or disclose any Proprietary
Information or anything related to such information without the prior written
consent of the Company.

       (c) Farren has assigned to the Company Farren's entire right, title and
interest in and to any and all Inventions (and all proprietary rights with
respect thereto) whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or
similar statutes, made, conceived of, reduced to practice, or learned, by him,
either alone or jointly with others, during the course of Farren's relationship
with the Company.

       (d) Farren's breach of the foregoing agreements and acknowledgments will
result in unique and special harm to the Company and therefore the Company shall
have the right to enforce this Agreement and any of its provisions by
injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief without prejudice to
any other rights and remedies that the Company may have for a breach of this
Agreement.

13. NON-DISPARAGEMENT. Farren and the Company agree that neither party will at
any time disparage the other party, and the other party's officers, directors,
employees, shareholders and agents, in any manner likely to be harmful to them
or their business, business reputation or personal reputation; provided that
each party shall respond accurately and fully to any questions, inquiry or
request for information when required by legal process.

14. CONFIDENTIALITY AND PUBLICITY. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
held in strictest confidence by Farren and the Company and shall not be
publicized or disclosed in any manner whatsoever; provided, however, that: (a)
Farren may disclose this Agreement, in confidence, to Farren's immediate family;
(b) the parties may disclose this Agreement in confidence to their respective
attorneys, accountants, auditors, tax preparers, and financial advisors; (c) the
Company may disclose this Agreement as necessary to fulfill standard or legally
required corporate reporting or disclosure requirements; and (d) the parties may
disclose this Agreement insofar as such disclosure may be necessary to enforce
its terms or as otherwise required by law.

15. MUTUAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS. In exchange for the promises and covenants set
forth herein, Farren and the Company (including the Company's parents and
subsidiaries, and their officers, directors, agents, servants, employees,
attorneys, shareholders, partners, successors, assigns, affiliates, customers,
and clients) hereby release, acquit, and forever discharge one

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

another of and from any and all claims liabilities, demands, causes of action,
costs, expenses, attorneys' fees, damages, indemnities and obligations of every
kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, known and unknown, suspected and
unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or in any way related to
agreements, acts or conduct at any time prior to the Separation Date, including,
but not limited to: all such claims and demands directly or indirectly arising
out of or in any way connected with the Company's employment of Farren, the
termination of that employment, and the Company's performance of its obligations
as Farren's former employer; claims or demands related to salary, bonuses,
commissions, stock, stock options, or any other ownership interests in the
Company, vacation pay, fringe benefits, expense reimbursements, severance pay,
or any form of compensation; claims pursuant to any federal, state or local law
or cause of action including, but not limited to, the California Fair Employment
and Housing Act, the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the federal
Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended; the federal Americans
With Disabilities Act; tort law; contract law; wrongful discharge;
discrimination; harassment; fraud; defamation; emotional distress; and breach of
the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

16. ADEA WAIVER. Farren further acknowledges that Farren is knowingly and
voluntarily waiving and releasing any rights Farren may have under the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 ("ADEA"). Farren also acknowledges that
the consideration given for the waiver and release in the preceding paragraphs
hereof is in addition to anything of value to which Farren was already entitled.
If Farren is forty (40) years of age or older when this release is signed,
Farren hereby provides the further acknowledgment that Farren is advised by this
writing, as required by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, that: (a)
Farren's waiver and release do not apply to any rights or claims that may arise
after the Effective Date of this Agreement; (b) Farren has the right to consult
with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement (although Farren may
voluntarily choose not to do so); (c) Farren may have at least forty-five (45)
days to consider this Agreement (although Farren may by Farren's own choice
execute this Agreement earlier); (d) Farren may have seven (7) days following
the execution of this Agreement to revoke this Agreement; and (e) this Agreement
shall not be effective until the date upon which the revocation period has
expired, therefore making the effective date the eighth day after this Agreement
is signed by Farren (the "Effective Date").

17. SECTION 1542 WAIVER. In giving this release, which includes claims which may
be unknown to Farren or to the Company at present, Farren and the Company hereby
acknowledge that they have read and understand Section 1542 of the Civil Code of
the State of California which reads as follows:

       A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT
       KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE
       RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS
       SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.

Farren and the Company hereby expressly waive and relinquish all rights and
benefits under this section and any law or legal principle of similar effect in
any jurisdiction with respect to claims released hereby.

18. NO ADMISSIONS. The parties hereto hereby acknowledge that this is a
compromise settlement of various matters, and that the promised payments in
consideration of this Agreement

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

shall not be construed to be an admission of any liability or obligation by
either party to the other party or to any other person whomsoever.

19. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the complete, final and
exclusive embodiment of the entire Agreement between Farren and the Company with
regard to the subject matter hereof. It is entered into without reliance on any
promise or representation, written or oral, other than those expressly contained
herein. It may not be modified except in writing signed by Farren and a duly
authorized officer of the Company. Each party has carefully read this Agreement,
has been afforded the opportunity to be advised of its meaning and consequences
by his or its respective attorneys, and signed the same of his or its free will.

20. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall bind the heirs, personal
representatives, successors, assigns, executors, and administrators of each
party, and inure to the benefit of each party, its agents, directors, officers,
employees, servants, heirs, successors and assigns.

21. APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement shall be deemed to have been entered into and
shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of
California as applied to contracts made and to be performed entirely within
California.

22. ARBITRATION. To ensure rapid and economical resolution of any disputes which
may arise under this Agreement, Farren and the Company agree that any and all
disputes or controversies of any nature whatsoever, arising from or regarding
the interpretation, performance, enforcement or breach of this Agreement shall
be resolved by confidential, final and binding arbitration (rather than trial by
jury or court or resolution in some other forum) to the fullest extent permitted
by law. Any arbitration proceeding pursuant to this Agreement shall be conducted
by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under the then-existing AAA
employment-related arbitration rules. If for any reason all or part of this
arbitration provision is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other portion of this
arbitration provision or any other jurisdiction, but this provision will be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable part or parts of this provision had never been
contained herein, consistent with the general intent of the parties insofar as
possible. The prevailing party in such arbitration proceeding shall be entitled
to recover from the other party reasonable attorneys' fees, arbitration expenses
and other recoverable costs incurred in connection with such arbitration
proceeding.

23. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. Farren is obligated under this Agreement to render
services and comply with covenants of a special, unique, unusual and
extraordinary character, thereby giving this Agreement peculiar value, so that
the loss of such service or violation by Farren of this Agreement, including,
but not limited to Section 12 herein, could not reasonably or adequately be
compensated in damages in an action at law. Therefore, notwithstanding Section
22 herein, in addition to any other remedies or sanctions provided by law,
whether criminal or civil, and without limiting the right of the Company and
successors or assigns to pursue all other legal and equitable rights available
to them, the Company shall have the right to compel specific performance hereof
by Farren or to obtain temporary and permanent injunctive relief against
violations hereof by Farren, including, but not limited to violations of
Sections 8 and 12 herein

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

and, in furtherance thereof, to apply to any court with jurisdiction over the
parties to enforce the provisions hereof.

24. SEVERABILITY. If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any term
or provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part,
then the remaining terms and provisions hereof shall be unimpaired. Such court
will have the authority to modify or replace the invalid or unenforceable term
or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that most accurately
represents the parties' intention with respect to the invalid or unenforceable
term or provision.

25. INDEMNIFICATION. Each party will indemnify and save harmless each other
party hereto from any loss incurred directly or indirectly by reason of the
falsity or inaccuracy of any representation made herein.

26. AUTHORIZATION. Each party warrants and represents that there are no liens or
claims of lien or assignments in law or equity or otherwise of or against any of
the claims or causes of action released herein and, further, that the parties
are fully entitled and duly authorized to give Farren complete and final general
release and discharge.

27. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, all of which together shall constitute one
and the same instrument.

28. SECTION HEADINGS. The section and paragraph headings contained in this
Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

MERRITT FARREN,
an individual.

/s/ Merritt D. Farren
------------------------------------------
Merritt Farren

Dated:   1/31/01
      ------------------------------------

LIGHTSPAN, INC.

/s/ John T. Kernan
------------------------------------------
John Kernan
CEO

Dated:   1/31/01
      ------------------------------------

                                       6

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