EdBizWatch

Pearson Loses Huge Testing Contract in New York

More bad news for Pearson, the world’s largest education and testing company.

Pearson Loses Huge Testing Contract in New York, Valerie Strauss, Washington Post

Grading the Common Core: No Teaching Experience Required

The process can evoke the way a restaurant chain monitors the work of its employees and the quality of its products.

Grading the Common Core: No Teaching Experience Required, Motoko Rich, NYT

Pearson sells PowerSchool to Vista Equity Partners for $350M

PowerSchool provides back-office software, such as pupil attendance tracking, etc.

Pearson sells PowerSchool to Vista Equity Partners for $350M, D. Hipwell, The Times 

Pearson's Family Edu Network Bought by Sandbox Partners

FEN provides "engaging educational" products that promote learning in informal way.

Sandbox Partners Buys Pearson's Family Education Network, Sean Cavanagh, Ed Week

L.A. School District Seeks Refund from Apple for iPad Program

“While Apple and Pearson promised a state-of-the-art technological solution, they have yet to deliver it.”

L.A. School District Seeks Refund from Apple for iPad Program, Howard Blume, L.A. Times

The Must-Attend Event for Education Tech Investors

“It’s a place where it’s all senior people,” said Ms. Quazzo, one of the conf organizers.

The Must-Attend Event for Education Tech Investors, Natasha Singer, New York Times

How Common Core is Killing the Textbook

CCSS was supposed to make it easier to market texbooks to 40+ states that adopted them.

How Common Core is Killing the Textbook, Rachael Monahan, Quartz

Bill Would Limit Use of Student Data

Student Digital Privacy and Parental Rights Act would prohibit companies from using or disclosing students’ info to tailor ads or create mktg profiles.

Bill Would Limit Use of Student Data, Natasha Singer, New York Times

Cyber Snoops Track Students’ Activity

It’s standardized-testing season across the U.S. — and cybersleuths are on the lookout for student tweets about the tests.

Cyber Snoops Track Students’ Activity, Stephanie Simon, Politico

Pearson: Social Media Spying or Smart Security?

The company has a responsibility to maintain the integrity of its product.

Pearson: Social Media Spying or Smart Security? Jennifer Schiess, Bellwether

Test-Question Tweet Spurs a Privacy Debate

Some parents, teachers union criticize test service monitoring student social media posts.

Test-Question Tweet Spurs a Privacy Debate, Leslie Brody, Wall Street Journal

Pearson Under Fire for Monitoring Students’ Twitter Posts

Is it corporate due diligence or spying on children?

Pearson Under Fire for Monitoring Students’ Twitter Posts, Natasha Singer, NYT

Pearson, PARCC, Privacy, Surveillance, & Trust

A single tweet can so easily destroy a test’s security & validity? Then the whole science of testing thing needs to be reconsidered. Because that’s pretty fragile.

Pearson, PARCC, Privacy, Surveillance, & Trust, Audrey Watters, Hack Education

Pearson Monitoring Social Media During PARCC Tests

Security of a test is critical to ensure fairness and that results are trustworthy and valid.

Pearson Monitoring Social Media for Breaches During PARCC Tests, Valerie Strauss, WP

‘Consumer Reports’ for Common Core Finds Materials Lacking

EdReports.org issued its first analysis of Common Core classroom materials.

New ‘Consumer Reports’ for Common Core Finds Materials Lacking, L. Layton, WP

No Profit Left Behind

In the high-stakes world of US education, Pearson makes money even when results don’t measure up.  

No Profit Left Behind, Stephanie Simon, Politico

Uncovering Security Flaws in Digital Ed Products for Students

At fault is a practice among start-ups of concentrating on increasing market share.

Uncovering Security Flaws in Digital Ed Products for Schoolchildren, N. SingerNYT

NCLB May End, But the Industry It Spawned Is Here To Stay

Those making money from the system say the good times will continue.

NCLB May End, But the Industry It Spawned Is Staying, M. Hensley-Clancy, BuzzFeed

Everybody Hates Pearson

The company is trying to reinvent itself for the Digital Age. That’s stirring up a lot of anger.

Everybody hates Pearson, Jennifer Reingold, Fortune

Open Education Resources: Bursting the $8 Billion Bubble

What K-12 OER Collborative, a new non-profit led by 11 states, plans to do.

OER: Bursting the $8 Billion Bubble, Lindsey Tepe, EdCentral