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Pearson Educational Measurement Achieves CMM Level 4 Designation

Iowa City, IA, December 19, 2003 - Pearson Educational Measurement today announced that it has been independently assessed and determined to be a CMM (Capability Maturity Model) Level 4 organization. This assessment verifies that PEM has successfully implemented software development and related business processes that comply with all aspects defined for Level 4 of the CMM – a process capability model that was developed by the SEI (Software Engineering Institute) at Carnegie Mellon University.

The CMM includes five levels, of which Level 5 is the highest. The model provides a proven and effective approach to defining, documenting, and measuring the maturity of processes used within software organizations. The two-week CMM assessment, conducted by a nine-member team led by an SEI-certified lead assessor, also verified Pearson Educational Measurement’s ongoing compliance with its CMM Levels 2 and 3 processes. The federal government requires all companies that are engaged in government contracts to have a minimum of a CMM Level 3 assessment. Within the U.S., fewer than 8% of the software organizations are rated CMM Level 4 or higher.

"It is extremely gratifying to know that our organization’s process improvement efforts are a verified success. The Level 4 rating demonstrates that we have advanced to a high level of process maturity. Our customers understand that mature processes translate into greater quality and efficiency." Said Steve Kromer, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Pearson Educational Measurement.

Janelle Purdy, Pearson Educational Measurement’s Vice President of Software Development, said, "Many people both within software development and throughout PEM have worked exceptionally hard to make this effort a success. The success of this assessment is cause for celebration in the short term as it puts us in the top 8% of software companies in the U.S. But more importantly, the improvements in the way we develop and deliver our products to our customers are cause for celebration for years to come."

In 1999, the company recognized that the testing business was evolving from primarily information providers to a more complex role of interpreting substantial quantities of data used to make far-reaching accountability decisions with significant implications. As a result, PEM embarked on an initiative to assess and improve its software development and related business processes in anticipation of these industry changes. These improvements have led to PEM’s historic achievement of a CMM Level 4 designation.

About Pearson Educational Measurement

Pearson Educational Measurement is the largest commercial processor of student assessments in the U.S., providing comprehensive assessment services and products to local and state education agencies as well as other assessment organizations and publishers. Pearson Educational Measurement understands how assessment activities promote learning and benefit students, teachers, parents, and schools. It is helping many of its customers meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind federal educational reform act.

Pearson Educational Measurement operates as a business of Pearson Education, the world’s largest education company, which in turn is a part of Pearson, the international media company. Pearson’s other primary operations include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group.

Media Contact
David Hakensen
david.hakensen@pearson.com