I AM REPOSTING THIS BECAUSE I FORGOT TO ADD THE LINK TO JASON STANFORD’S WEBSITE. JASON IS A GREAT TEXAS BLOGGER WHO HAS THE INSIDE TRACK ON THE POLITICS OF TESTING AND THE BIG MONEY ATTACHED TO IT.
Jason Stanford watches Texas politics closely and has become fascinated with the state’s devotion to high-stakes testing. As he shows in this post, there is plenty of accountability for kids, but none at all for Pearson.
In 2010, Pearson won a $468 million contract to test Texas students. When the legislature decided to reduce mandated high school testing by 67% this year, Pearson cut its budget by less than 2%.
A state audit showed that no one is monitoring what Pearson does or how it spends the state’s money. There is no accountability for Pearson.
As Stanford says, the new state motto might be “Don’t mess with ethics.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Ms. Ravitch, how many years did you teach in public schools? I am guessing many years because you seem to be an expert on everything people do wrong in public education.
Experienced Teacher,
I am a historian of education and have been for 40 years. I rely on experienced teachers to share their wisdom here.
So, to be clear, how many years of experience do you have actually teaching in public schools?
Experienced Teacher,
What are your credentials?
I have taught 15 years in public schools.
What’s happening now has nothing to do with education. Catch up!
Experienced Teacher,
I’m an experienced teacher.
Let’s talk.
In reading this author’s article, common sense prevails! No data or statistics is needed. It is pure common sense that would tell me that the test-makers should not have free reign and lack of transparency to do whatever they please because their product is supposed to help students. They should be working along with the actual districts they are providing tests to (and I am not talking about “done deal” and equally secretive field tests which are an insult in that they take additional learning time away from a student’s school day). If the test-making industry were not “all about profit”, there would not be the ultimate secrecy to the point that students and teachers could not review the questions and answers to each test administered after the test is scored and completed! But the various companies fear that other testing companies will move in on their turf and treat their tests like something to be patented. Once again, profit comes before the betterment of students. “For profit” should be about PRODUCTS not PEOPLE….
Ug, Pearson. And that’s not to mention the edTPA that student teachers (such as myself) are required to do AND PAY FOR (about $300) even though – get this – there is no passing score yet and it’s just a “field test.” My university in Washington state has submitted a petition signed by the leaders of schools of education around the state to prevent students from having to pay this ridiculous price for something that will neither help nor affect our teaching careers, but I don’t think anything has changed. And it’s all to pad Pearson’s pocket.
The scariest part, for me, is that we’re required to film students while we (student teachers) teach some lessons. Then the video is given to Pearson, and who knows what they’ll have the rights to do with the footage of my students? As you and Mr. Stanford wrote in your blog posts, Pearson has no accountability, and I don’t trust Pearson to not sell the footage of my students or do something else that’s…iffy.