PEARSON’S HISTORY OF TESTING PROBLEMS
compiled by Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
Updated June 11, 2019
1998 California – test score delivery delayed
1999-2000 Arizona – 12,000 tests misgraded due to flawed answer key
2000 Florida – test score delivery delayed resulting in $4 million fine
2000 Minnesota – misgraded 45,739 graduation tests leads to lawsuit with $11 million settlement – judge found “years of quality control problems” and a “culture emphasizing profitability and cost-cutting.” http://www.news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200211/25_pugmiret_te… (FairTest consulted with plaintiffs’ attorneys)
2000 Washington – 204,000 writing WASL exams rescored
2002 Florida — dozens of school districts received no state grades for their 2002 scores because of a “programming error” at the DOE. One Montessori school never received scores because NCS Pearson claimed not to have received the tests.
2005 Michigan — scores delayed and fines levied per contract
2005 Virginia — computerized test misgraded – five students awarded $5,000 scholarships http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_8014/is_20051015/ai_n41291590/
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 resulting in erroneous results for almost four years during which time 126 students flunked the exam due to that wrongly scored item. Auditors criticized Pearson’s quality control checks, and the firm offered $600,000 in scholarships as compensation
2008 South Carolina –“Scoring Error Delays School Report Cards” The State, November 14, 2008
2008-2009 Arkansas — first graders forced to retake exam because real test used for practice
2009-2010 Wyoming – Pearson’s new computer adaptive PAWS flops; state declares company in “complete default of the contract;” $5.1 million fine accepted after negotiations but not pursued by state governor
- http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_d7fae426-7358-5000-a86b-aefcae258a2a.html
- http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/article_263ceb44-833a-11e0-911d-001cc4c002e0.html
2010 Florida – test score delivery delayed by more than a month – nearly $15 million in fines imposed and paid. http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/florida-hits-fcat-contractor-pearson-with-another-12-million-in-penalties/1110688
2010 Minnesota–– results from online science tests taken by 180,000 students delayed due to scoring error http://www.twincities.com/ci_15533234?nclick_check=1#
2011 Florida – some writing exams delivered to districts without cover sheets, revealing subject students would be asked to write about http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/testing/testmaker-pearson-replaces-faulty-fcats-missing-cover-sheets/1153508
2011 Florida – new computerized algebra end-of-course exam delivery system crashes on first day of administration http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-05-17/features/os-algebra-test-pearson-problems-20110517_1_tests-algebra-high-schools
2011 Oklahoma– “data quality issues” cause “unacceptable” delay in score delivery — http://newsok.com/errors-in-testing-data-hold-up-results-for-oklahoma-districts-students/article/3597297
Pearson ultimately replaced by CTB/McGraw Hill http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20120714_19_A1_Afters391504
2011 Guam – score release delayed because results based on flawed comparison data; government seeks reimbursement — http://www.guampdn.com/article/20111021/NEWS01/110210303
2011 Illinois – 144 student in five Chicago schools wrongly received zeroes due to scoring error. The state sought nearly $1.7 million from Pearson, which could not explain how the errors occurred.
2011 Iowa – State Ethics and Campaign Finance Disclosure Board opens investigation of Iowa Education Department director Jason Glass for participating in all-expenses-paid trip to Brazil sponsored by Pearson Foundation — http://news.yahoo.com/formal-complaint-against-iowa-education-chief-190455698.html
2011 New York – Attorney General Eric Schneiderman subpoenas financial records from Pearson Education and Pearson Foundation concerning their sponsorship of global junkets for dozens of state education leaders — http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/22/education/new-york-attorney-general-is-investigating-pearson-education.html
2011 Oklahoma – State identifies 18 significant problems with Pearson’s tests leading to $8 million penalty settlement. http://newsok.com/oklahoma-education-department-reviews-contracts-in-wake-of-standardized-testing-errors/article/3601417
2011 Wyoming – Board of Education replaces Pearson as state’s test vendor after widespread technical problems with online exam http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/state-educati…
2012 New York – “Pineapple and the Hare” nonsense test question removed from exams after bloggers demonstrate that it was previously administered in at least half a dozen other states – http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/21/nyregion/standardized-testing-is-blamed-for-question-about-a-sleeveless-pineapple.html
2012 New York – More than two dozen additional errors found in New York State tests developed by Pearson —http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304203604577394492500145150.html
2012 Florida – After percentage of fourth grades found “proficient” plunges from 81% to 27% in one year, state Board of Education emergency meeting “fixes” scores on FCAT Writing Test by changing definition of proficiency. http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Passing-score-lowered-for-FCAT-Writing-exam/-/1637132/13396234/-/k1ckc2z/-/index.html
2012 Virginia – Error on computerized 3rd and 6th grade SOL tests causes state to offer free retakes. http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Error_on_SOL_Reading_Test_Gives_Students_Option_to_Retake_154191285.html
2012 New York – Parents have their children boycott “field test” of new exam questions because of concerns about Pearson’s process http://rochesterhomepage.net/fulltext?nxd_id=322122
2012 Oklahoma – After major test delivery delays, state replaces Pearson as its testing contractor http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=19&articleid=20120714_19_A1_Afters391504
2012 New York – More than 7,000 New York City elementary and middle school students wrongly blocked from graduation by inaccurate “preliminary scores” on Pearson tests
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/ed_blunder_mad_grads_JI2z8N6tA6Td0FGiwYSraP
2012 New York – State officials warn Pearson about potential fines if tests have more errors http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/fines-bad-questions-state-tests-article-1.1187220
2012 Mississippi – Pearson pays $623,000 for scoring error repeated over four years that blocked graduation for five students and wrongly lowered scores for 121 others http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121025/NEWS01/310240052/Pearson-North-America-scoring-error-prevented-5-Mississippi-students-from-graduating-affected-121-others
2012 Texas – Pearson computer failure blocks thousands of students from taking state-mandated exam by displaying error message at log on http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local-education/computer-glitch-prevents-some-texas-students-from-/nTMCP/
2013 New York – Passages from Pearson textbooks appear in Pearson-designed statewide test, giving unfair advantage to students who used those materials http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/practice-material-found-upstate-exams-article-1.1321448
2013 New York – three Pearson test scoring mistakes block nearly 5,000 students from gifted-and-talented program eligibility http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/20/education/score-corrections-qualify-nearly-2700-more-pupils-for-gifted-programs.html
2013 Worldwide – Pearson VUE testing centers around the globe experience major technical problems, leaving thousands unable to take scheduled exams or register for new ones http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/04/26/pearson-vue-test-centers-experience-major-problems
2013 New York – Second error found in New York City gifted-and-talented test scoring makes 300 more students eligible for special programs http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/11/education/new-error-found-in-test-scoring-for-gifted-programs.html
2013 England, Wales and Northern Ireland – General Certificate of Secondary Education exam in math leaves out questions and duplicates some others http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10118879/Exam-board-apologises-over-GCSE-test-paper-blunder.html
2013 Texas – State Auditor finds inadequate monitoring of Pearson’s contract: vendor determined costs of assessment changes without sufficient oversight and failed to disclose hiring nearly a dozen former state testing agency staff http://www.texastribune.org/2013/07/16/state-auditor-finds-testing-contract-oversight-lac/
2013 Virginia – 4,000 parents receive inaccurate test scorecards due to Pearson error in converting scores to proficiency levels http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/pearson-miscalculates-scorecards-for-more-than-4000-va-students/2013/08/13/5620cc42-042d-11e3-a07f-49ddc7417125_story.html
2013 New York – New Pearson Common Core textbooks are “full of errors,” including in sample test items http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/textbooks-recommended-dept-education-full-errors-teachers-article-1.1512852
2013 New York – Pearson fined $7.7 million by New York State for using its non-profit foundation arm to steer business to the firm http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/13/nyregion/educational-publishers-charity-accused-of-seeking-profits-will-pay-millions.html
2014 National – Pearson notifies students who took the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) in 2011 that their exams had been miscored http://dianeravitch.net/2014/04/17/pearsons-errors-matter/
2014 Florida – State education commissioner seeks penalties after schools in 26 counties suspend Pearson’s new computerized tests because server problems prevent students from logging on and freeze screens http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/pasco-hernando-schools-battling-computer-problems-during-fcat/2176268
2014 New York – Printing errors result in missing questions and blank pages in Pearson-designed statewide math assessment http://news.wbfo.org/post/missing-pages-statewide-math-assessments
2014 Texas – Pearson emails out two test questions to teachers days before the exam is administered http://educationblog.dallasnews.com/2014/05/questions-on-two-staar-exams-were-accidentially-emailed-out-last-month.html/
2014 Texas – STAAR test answer sheets shipped to Pearson are lost, requiring students to retake the exam in the middle of summer http://www.kxii.com/home/headlines/Denison-ISD-officials-say-164-STAAR-tests-missing-262643421.html
2014 Virginia – Error in scoring Pearson’s SOL Civics & Economics test question results in 500 changed scores, including 224 students moving from failing to passing http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/08/14/scoring-error-on-one-sol-test-question-meant-hundreds-of-virginia-students-who-failed-really-passed/
2014 Texas – Pearson goes after University of Texas–Austin education professor who testified that the company’s products do not measure what they claim to measure http://www.texasobserver.org/walter-stroup-standardized-testing-pearson/
2014 Colorado – Pearson test-scoring error delays release of Colorado Measures of Academic Success scores http://www.9news.com/story/news/education/2014/10/16/state-delays-release-new-tests/17356299/
2014 Minnesota – State expresses concern that Pearson computer testing technology is outmoded and cannot support new online exams http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_27211647/minnesota-schools-hit-glitches-online-testing
2014 New Mexico – American Institutes of Research claims “bid-rigging” in Common Core award to Pearson http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/marketplacek12/2014/07/air_says_it_will_appeal_big_pearson_common-core_contract_in_nm_court.html
2015 Colorado – Pearson’s glitches slow social studies and science tests http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_27914137/pearson-glitches-slow-colorado-science-social-studies-tests
2015 New York – Quality of Pearson-designed questions on state exam challenged http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/04/19/educators-alarmed-by-some-questions-on-n-y-common-core-tests/
2015 California – Pearson battles over award of state testing contract to rival firm http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/04/22/testing-titans-pearson-ets-battle-over-calif.html
2015 New York – State must clear up mystery of unscored test questions https://citylimits.org/2015/03/16/ny-state-must-clear-up-mystery-of-missing-test-items/
2015 Minnesota – Statewide testing suspended due to Pearson computerized administration system collapse http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/education/3728107-minnesota-suspends-clunky-online-proficiency-testing
2015 Florida – State end-of-course testing suspended due to PearsonAccess log-in problems http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/florida-doe-calls-for-temporary-testing-halt-amid-log-in-troubles/2229436
2015 Virginia – State testing interrupted three times because of Pearson testing system problems http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/va-testing-interrupted-three-times-because-of-issues-with-pearson-system/2015/05/20/3243a030-ff38-11e4-8b6c-0dcce21e223d_story.html
2015 Indiana – Cyber-attack on Pearson computerized exams raises security concerns, http://www.fox28.com/story/29124495/2015/05/21/istep-security-concerns-after-cyber-attack
2015 New York – State ditches controversial test-maker http://ny.chalkbeat.org/2015/07/09/new-york-ditches-controversial-test-maker-pearson/#.VbD5e5dLUZwC
2015 Texas – Pearson loses bulk of state testing contract after repeated problems http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/pearson-is-losing-bulk-of-standardized-testing-con/nmJkX/
2015 Minnesota – Pearson Pays $5.7 million in fines and services for testing screw ups http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/Welcome/News/PressRel/023455
2016 New York – Missing and unlabeled pages in English exam cause confusion http://ny.chalkbeat.org/2016/04/06/missing-and-unlabeled-pages-on-state-english-exams-cause-confusion/
2016 New Jersey – Statewide testing cancelled due to computer problems http://www.nj.com/education/2016/04/parcc_testing_postponed_statewide_after_technical.html
2016 Indiana – Online testing encounters glitches http://www.jconline.com/story/news/education/2016/04/21/istep-test-part-deux/83343720/
2016 Great Britain – Answers published online day before test administration http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2016/05/10/sats-answers-published-online-by-mistake-for-second-time/
2016 Indiana – Test score reporting delayed again http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/indiana/ISTEP-scores-again-delayed-13896176
2017 Mississippi – Nearly 1000 tests misgraded; graduation may have been affected http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2017/06/16/mde-testing-company-misgraded-nearly-1-000-exams/405130001/
2017 Mississippi – Testing company fired after exams mis-scored https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/mississippi/articles/2017-06-16/mississippi-fires-testing-firm-after-exams-wrongly-scored
2017 Indiana – Test-maker goof invalidates scores at 21 schools http://www.wibc.com/news/local-news/istep-goof-invalidates-scores-21-schools
2018 Australia – Failure of online medical licensing exams forces hundreds of retakes http://www.smh.com.au/national/hundreds-of-trainee-doctors-forced-to-resit-1800-exam-after-unknown-technical-fault-20180219-p4z0wj.html
2018 Minnesota – Another problem involving testing company’s computerized exams http://www.kaaltv.com/education/minnesota-mca-pearson-testing-issues/4881444/
2018 Indiana – Damages sought for ISTEP Delay http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/schools/20180906/damages-sought-for-istep-delay
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