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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FmylsEufqo7kqxPC3MIArW3xmxF6IscDAQ46y5CaXxevFOlzP98rtgnokDWXoQrM
 EEAbeFNr00z9piCYJTH5Bg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000892712-04-000892.txt : 20040903
<SEC-HEADER>0000892712-04-000892.hdr.sgml : 20040903
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040903105357
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000892712-04-000892
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040901
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040903
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040903

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RYAN JUDITH A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001279075

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22187
		FILM NUMBER:		041015501

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2911 PEACH ST
		CITY:			WISCONSIN RAPIDS
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			54496

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RENAISSANCE LEARNING INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001030484
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				391559474
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2911 PEACH STREET
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 8036
		CITY:			WISCONSIN RAPIDS
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			54495-8036
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7154243636

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 8361
		CITY:			WISCONSIN RAPIDS
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			54495

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ADVANTAGE LEARNING SYSTEMS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970110
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001030484</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RENAISSANCE LEARNING INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RLRN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001279075</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RYAN JUDITH A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2911 PEACH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WISCONSIN RAPIDS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>54495-8036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3061</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-09-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-09-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3061</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3061</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock option grant under the Issuer's 1997 Stock Incentive Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Steven A. Schmidt (pursuant to Power of Attorney previously filed)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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