<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-09</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000721237</issuerCik><issuerName>NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>NLCI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001215011</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>FINK STEVEN B</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>1250 FOURTH STREET, SIXTH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>SANTA MONICA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>90401</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Series F Convertible Preferred Stock, $.001 par value</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>5.10</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-09</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>118481</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>5.10</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-09-09</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.001 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>118481</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>118481</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Footnote</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therin.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The securities are owned by Mollusk Holdings, LLC.</footnote><footnote id="F3">N/A</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Steven B. Fink</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-10</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

