The Oregon Department of Education abandoned the online assessment system because it has given fits to students and their teachers in the past two weeks…. Deputy Superintendent Ed Dennis said the switch results from a long-simmering dispute with the testing company, and state officials say the glitches make the computer testing system unreliable…. The state ordered two temporary halts to online testing before deciding to give up….

Robert Patrylak, a lawyer for Vantage Learning of Newtown, Pa., said the Vantage computer testing system is reliable and used by schools across the nation. Any slowdown was because of too many students trying to access the system at once, he said. He said Oregon officials have been given data from all completed tests.

Vantage officially canceled its contract with the state Jan. 23 for nonpayment of a $2.8 million outstanding bill, but Patrylak said the company continued to work with the state in hopes payment issues could be resolved…. Dennis said that invoices for some services didn't appear until after the company was disqualified in bidding for a new online testing contract.

Steven Carter, The Oregonian, March 13.

The Oregon Department of Education accused an online testing company Tuesday in Marion County Circuit Court of breaking a contract and cutting off testing services, forcing schools to turn to paper-and-pencil tests…. The suit claims that Vantage Learning of Newton, Pa., terminated the contract in January after the Education Department disputed owing $4.7 million…. The company then failed to provide maintenance and support… according to the complaint.

Robert Patrylak, Vantage's lawyer, said Tuesday the company probably will file a federal suit against the Oregon Education Department. … "There is very little in that suit that can't be proven as completely false or misleading…. We terminated the contract because they failed to pay their bills and had no intention of paying their bills."

Suzanne Pardington, The Oregonian, March 14.