ETS buys education testing company Questar for $127.5m
New Jersey-based non-profit organisation Education Testing Services (ETS) has acquired Minnesota-based testing service Questar for $127.5m. After gaining regulatory approval, Questar, which offers "summative assessments, scalable technological innovation and scoring and reporting services" for grades three to eight, among other services, will become a for-profit subsidiary of ETS. Last year ETS paid $20.7m in upgrades and damages in Texas, following "multiple testing problems".

Education Testing Services, the global billion dollar nonprofit that administers more than 50 million tests (including the GRE and TOEFL) across the world, recently sealed an agreement to acquire Questar, a Minnesota-based for-profit testing service, for $127.5 million. According to the press release, Questar will become a separate for-profit subsidiary of ETS.

Questar offers what they describe as a "fresh and innovative" method of testing for grades 3-8—providing states with summative assessments, design support, scalable technological innovation, administrative help, scoring and reporting services.

The changes highlight a possible strategic shift for ETS whose reputation came under fire last year when the nonprofit had to pay $20.7 million dollars in damages and upgrades after multiple testing problems in Texas.

“ETS and Questar are already proven players in serving states, districts, educators, and students across the nation,” ETS President Walt MacDonald said in the prepared statement. “This deepens our commitment, especially since both our missions of serving education, improving instruction, and fully preparing students for college and careers are so closely aligned.”

The agreement is not final as it is still subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.