Press Release - April 13, 2004

Vantage Learning Reports Dramatic Test Score Gains for Students with MY Access!™ Writing Instructional Tool

MY Access! incorporates IntelliMetric® automated essay grading technology to provide frequent and immediate feedback

Newtown, PA, April 13, 2004 - Vantage Learning (www.vantage.com) today announced from the floor of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) annual conference that students dramatically improved their test scores following use of MY Access!. MY Access! is an instructional writing tool that allows students to practice and revise their writing online and receive immediate feedback using the IntelliMetric automated essay scoring technology.

Five studies, conducted from California to Delaware showed marked improvements in student writing skills when using MY Access!. At Birmingham High School, 81% of students from the group using MY Access! passed the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE), as compared to only a 46% passing rate from the group that did not use Vantage Learning's tool. In a separate study at Red Clay Consolidated School District in Delaware, 86% of the students from the group using MY Access! achieved the highest performance levels (3 and 4) on the DSTP, the state proficiency test. As for the group that did not use MY Access!, only 43% of those students achieved high performance levels.

"When we developed the IntelliMetric technology, we anticipated that students would realize real value from receiving immediate feedback on their writing. Now, we can say with confidence that IntelliMetric automated scoring, when imbedded in an instructional writing program, will dramatically improve student writing," said Harry Barfoot, VP of Sales of Marketing for Vantage Learning, who presented the studies at the conference.

Commenting on one of the studies conducted in Parkland High School in Allentown, PA, Jane Barthold, Assistant Principal said, "MY Access! is an outstanding teaching and learning tool. Our school improved 15 percentage points on the PSSA writing test since we implemented the program in our English classes last year."

Vantage has been supporting writing instruction with its award-winning IntelliMetric technology since 1998. IntelliMetric evaluates student writing through a rich blend of natural language understanding, artificial intelligence and the digitization of human expertise. The IntelliMetric engine evaluates a student's competency in subjects ranging from reading and writing, to science and social studies. The IntelliMetric tool consistently and accurately evaluates students' progress and provides immediate feedback on how they can improve their skills.

About the Vantage Learning Platform™

The Vantage Learning Platform (VLP) is the most widely used online assessment platform in the world. VLP provides test registration, delivery, and reporting services as well as item banking and test creation services. The VLP includes the award-winning IntelliMetric open-ended assessment delivery and scoring engine. Vantage's IntelliMetric uses a rich blend of artificial intelligence and the digitization of human expertise to accurately score and assess a student's competency in a range of subjects. Its inherent flexibilities allow schools to consistently evaluate a student's progress and provide immediate feedback on how students can improve their skills.

About Vantage Learning

Vantage Learning, an affiliate of Vantage Laboratories and the leading provider of online assessment and automated essay scoring, developed IntelliMetric (www.vantagelearning.com) to meet the needs of business, education, and government agencies needing a comprehensive Internet-based test authoring, delivery, scoring and reporting platform. IntelliMetric administers and scores responses to open-ended questions over the Internet using advanced artificial intelligence technology. An individual can enter a response to a question posed, submit the response, and receive an immediate score with feedback within seconds.

Vantage delivers assessment services directly to states, municipalities, school districts and individual schools. Vantage provides services in all 50 states including Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, Oregon and Texas. Within the certification community, organizations such as the ABCTE (American Board for the Certification of Teacher Excellence) and the ICDL (International Computer Drivers License) rely on Vantage's assessment technology. Vantage also provides online assessment and automated essay scoring testing services to some of the most esteemed educational programs and companies in the world, including ACT, Harcourt Educational Measurement, The College Board, CTB/McGraw-Hill, and Thomson Learning. Vantage's tools are used by many industry giants including Microsoft, Apple Computer, AOL and Sun Microsystems.

Eduventures recently selected Vantage Learning as one of the eight most innovative educational technology companies.