-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CbnAEe8bNz/PJ2ftZOi7A+hf8UExQRjyAfaANMX/+bpUedmPrv11Zy5ulo6qDsAM
 1AOwSHmh5quSKF1lA72MmQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001242916-03-000001.txt : 20030620
<SEC-HEADER>0001242916-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030620
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030620113820
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001242916-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030617
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030620

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RILEY RICHARD W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001242916

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22844
		FILM NUMBER:		03751219

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SYLVAN LEARNING SYSTEMS INC
		STREET 2:		1001 FLEET STREET
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SYLVAN LEARNING SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000912766
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-EDUCATIONAL SERVICES [8200]
		IRS NUMBER:				521492296
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 FLEET STREET
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4108438000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 FLEET STREET
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-17</periodOfReport>


    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912766</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SYLVAN LEARNING SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>slvn</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001242916</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RILEY RICHARD W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock Options</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>23.13</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-06-18</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-06-17</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Options</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>5000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock Options</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>19</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-04-14</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2011-04-13</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Options</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>10000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock Options</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>24.77</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2002-06-07</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2012-06-06</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Options</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>5000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Frances M. Jackson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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