A history of Pearson’s testing problems worldwide
Now that Pearson, the worldwide education company, has won a huge contract with PARCC, one of the two multi-state consortia designing new Common Core-aligned tests with federal funds, it seems like a good time to review problems Pearson has had with previous projects.
I’ve run one of these before but this is an updated list compiled by Bob Schaeffer, public education director of FairTest, the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, which is dedicated to ending the misuse of standardized tests. Take a look at not just the number of problems but the variety in 14 states — Virginia, Florida, Texas, California, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Arizona, Mississippi, Wyoming, New York, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, — as well as in Guam and elsewhere around the world.
1998
California – Test score delivery is delayed.
1999-2000
Arizona – 12,000 tests misgraded due to flawed answer key.
2000
Florida – Test score delivery is delayed, resulting in $4 million fine.
Minnesota – 45,739 graduation tests misgraded, leading to lawsuit with $11 million settlement; judge finds “years of quality control problems” and a “culture emphasizing profitability and cost-cutting.” (FairTest consulted with plaintiffs’ attorneys)
Washington – 204,000 writing Washington Assessment of Student Learning exams have to be rescored.
2002
Florida — Dozens of school districts received no state grades for their 2002 scores because of a “programming error” at the state Department of Education. One Montessori school never received scores because NCS Pearson claimed not to have received the tests.
2005
Michigan — Scores are delayed and fines levied per contract.
Virginia – Five students get $5,000 scholarships based on misgraded computerized test.
2005-2006
SAT college admissions test – 4400 tests wrongly scored; $3 million settlement after lawsuit (note FairTest was an expert witness for plaintiffs)
2007-2011
Mississippi – Subcontractor programs correct answer as incorrect, A history of Pearson’s testing problems worldwide - The Washington Post:
