Close this Advertisement

Florida DOE Awards Assessment Test Contract to Pearson

Following an open bidding process, the Florida Department of Education has announced it will award its contract for the Next Generation Florida Comprhensive Assessment Test (FCAT) to Pearson. Under the contract, the educational publisher will provide all test and test preparation materials, as well as extensive scoring and evaluation services, through December 2013.

The FCAT is an accountability measure that conforms to the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, and educators in the state can build their instruction plans around the needs of their students, in accordance with FCAT standards.

Harcourt Assessment, acquired by Pearson in 2007, has provided similar materials for FCAT development since 2000.

About the Author

Scott Aronowitz is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas. He has covered the technology, advertising, and entertainment sectors for seven years. He can be reached here.

Comments

Mon, Jun 7, 2010 Beth Mitchell Titusville, Florida

I am wondering if the latest delays for test results will be publicly addressed by Pearson. As a Florida educator, I am familiar with Pearson's history of quality textbooks and testing materials. I understand technical glitches and all, but am concerned about the effects on my state. As scores were due to be released today, June 7, 2010, I arranged meetings with administration to schedule students for the 2010-2011 school year based on FCAT results. To my dismay, scores were not available. Are we truly looking at July as the earliest possible date of releasing scores? If so, you should be aware of the burdens this creates for school districts and teachers statewide: we will not be able to place students in appropriate classes until scores are received (students report to school August 9, 2010); administration will not be able to plan staffing schedules until July. Although a month seems like a lot of time, when it comes to scheduling, I can tell you it is not. My other concern as a teacher facing yet another DEcrease in salary, I find it hard to swallow that my state paid Pearson $254.1 million USD only to receive substandard service. You do not promise what you cannot give. I am very disappointed in Pearson.

Add your Comment

Your Name:(optional)
Your Email:(optional)
Your Location:(optional)
Comment:
Please type the letters/numbers you see above

White Papers:

  • Desktop Virtualization in K-12 Schools: Reducing Costs, Saving Time And Delivering Anytime, Anywhere Access for Students and Staff PDF screen shot

    This paper will show how desktop virtualization can positively position educational institutions for the future, enabling them to reduce expenses through hard dollar savings and time efficiencies while delivering the experience that students, faculty and staff need and desire. Through the experiences of Babylon School District, as well as Manchester Essex Regional School District in Massachusetts and Rockford Public Schools in Michigan, we’ll paint a picture of how desktop virtualization can revolutionize education’s approach to delivering technology — an approach schools can actually afford. Read more...

all white papers