Sponsored Two Pieces of Legislation to Prohibit Use of Pearson Testing Materials
(Long Island, NY) Senator Marc Panepinto (D-Buffalo) praised the New York State Education Department’s decision to award a testing contract to Questar Assessment Inc., as a milestone today. The $44 million contract marks a definitive end to the SED’s five-year relationship with Pearson.
Senator Panepinto previously sponsored two key pieces of legislation (S.4110 and S.4111) to prohibit use of Pearson examination materials based on a track record of corporate greed with no input from the teachers taking and administering the exams. Following today’s announcement regarding a new contract with Questar, Senator Panepinto made the following remarks:
“A successful education system starts with our teachers. But for too long, the State Education Department’s contract with Pearson Education Incorporated rendered them powerless. Rather than develop a quality curriculum out of fairness for teachers and students, priority was placed on the corporate interests of those who never set foot inside our classrooms. Today, that abominable practice comes to a definitive end. Today, we take the process of developing standardized tests and curriculum out of the hands of big business and place it back into the hands of our educators. I am proud to have sponsored two pieces of legislation in leading the fight to restore fairness and equity to our schools by cutting ties with Pearson. I look forward to Questar’s close cooperation with our teachers as we continue to improve instructional support for all.”
Senator Panepinto sponsored the following legislation to cut ties with Pearson Inc. and restore the voices of teachers across New York State:
- S.4110 – Prohibits the use of examinations developed by Pearson Education Inc. or its affiliates
- Ceases use of examinations by Pearson Inc. and its affiliates
- Terminates contracts with Pearson Education Inc. and its affiliates to plan, consult, develop, provide, administer or review New York State Common Core standardized tests
- Prohibits Education Department from entering into any new agreement with Pearson Education Inc. and its affiliates for the purposes of developing curriculum, or tests whether standardized or not, purchasing tests or any educational materials
S. 4111 – Prevents any applicant for teacher certification to be required to take an examination administered by Pearson Education Inc. and/or its affiliates
Prohibits SED Commissioner from requiring that any certification applicant take an examination administered by Pearson Education Inc. and/or affiliates to qualify for a certification license, probationary period, appointment, and tenure for those employed in the teaching or supervising service
Senator Panepinto represents the 60th Senate District, which includes parts of the City of Buffalo as well as communities in both the Northtowns and the Southtowns of Western New York.
