Pearson wins emergency test scoring contract from Tennessee

Pearson Education will score the Tennessee Department of Education’s TNReady tests this year, after the original $108m contract with rival provider Measurement was cancelled. Pearson is already working with education departments in Kentucky, Virginia, and Indiana. Education Commissioner Candice McQueen said in a letter to districts that “Pearson will score approximately 1.8 million tests, including the first part of TNReady grades 3-8 tests and Part I and Part II for high school”. The deal with Measurement broke down after the company’s online testing platform was overwhelmed and could not supply enough alternative materials.

Jason Gonzales

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Pearson Education will score TNReady assessments this year, but the state is still working on who will administer the state's standardized tests next year after the Tennessee Department of Education fired its last vendor.

Pearson landed the $18.5 million job with the state after the education department took advantage of a law that says the state can enter into non-competitive bidding in cases of emergencies arising from any unforeseen cause.

"After we terminated the contract with Measurement Inc. on April 27, we began quickly collaborating with state central procurement in securing an emergency vendor," said Education Commissioner Candice McQueen. "It is usually done with someone that has prior experience in the state."

Pearson previously administered the state's standardized tests from 2003-14 and is used in Tennessee for an optional test in kindergarten through second grade.

"Pearson, known for scoring NAEP (The National Assessment of Educational Progress) for three decades, is currently partnering with 25 states across the country, including Kentucky, Virginia, and Indiana," McQueen said in a letter to schools directors.

The company was also set to be the state's test vendor through the PARCC Consortium, which administers a Common Core State Standards-aligned test, before lawmaker backlash led to the five-year, $108 million contract with Measurement Inc.

But that move didn't work out for the state after Measurement Inc.'s online testing platform in February couldn't meet the testing demand. The state switched to paper tests, but the company then couldn't deliver all of the materials needed.

The state canceled its contract with the company in April and has paid about $1.6 million of the contract for the company to develop the tests. The state was expected to pay about $30 million of the $108 million contract with Measurement Inc. to score tests.

"The state budgeted a total of $30 million for Measurement Inc. this year; therefore at this point, we anticipate being well under budget on assessment (costs)," Department of Education spokeswoman Ashley Ball said in an email.

Pearson will score approximately 1.8 million tests, including the first part of TNReady grades 3-8 tests and Part I and Part II for high school, according to McQueen.

The education department has granted a reprieve in test accountability measures for school districts after the issues, but in the fall will report high school achievement and student growth scores. Tennessee will also provide the raw data for grades 3-8 to schools.

As Tennessee looks for a new test vendor, McQueen said the state is working closely with the Department of General Services to strengthen the criteria for finding a new company. This will include specific technical requirements for the administration of both online and paper tests, and examining successful experiences in other states.

"We have had multiple meetings with vendors to know what is available and what process we need to put in place for a quality vendor," McQueen said.

In the 2014 procurement process, which predates McQueen, Tennessee officials were aware of concerns about Measurement Inc.'s ability to oversee online testing at the level required by Tennessee, according to documents and interviews with education officials in other states.

The online platform the company used was relatively untested on a mass scale. Connecticut officials also voiced concerns in reference checks about the online testing platform. Still, the company scored well in other areas and won the contract.

As the state works through securing a vendor for next year, state Rep. Bo Mitchell, D-Nashville, said he will object if the emergency procedures are used to find that new company.

"It’s the TDOE’s poor vetting process with Measurement Inc. that got us here in the first place," he said. "How can we be sure that without some sort of legislative oversight we can trust the process."

Reach Jason Gonzales at 615-259-8047 and on Twitter @ByJasonGonzales.

A letter was sent to districts Monday by Education Commissioner Candice McQueen.