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Pearson Educational Measurement Helps Tennessee Move High School Testing Online

Tennessee pilots electronic high school assessments

IOWA CITY, Iowa – May 31, 2005 – Pearson Educational Measurement today announced that it is working with the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) to implement a pilot study introducing online testing for the Tennessee High School Gateway and End-of-Course (EOC) assessment programs. 

To realize the state’s objective of transitioning to electronic testing, Pearson Educational Measurement (PEM) is working collaboratively with TDOE to roll out the program over the next five years. TDOE has already implemented the online testing pilot program using PEMSolutions™, the company’s custom suite of assessment and reporting services, for selected EOC tests in nine of its school districts: Bristol City Schools, Clay County Schools, Dyer County Schools, Haywood County Schools, Loudon County Schools, Milan Special School District, Putnam County Schools, Tipton County Schools and Trenton Special School District. These systems report positive experiences thus far. After the pilot, TDOE and PEM will conduct a research study to determine the comparability of results from paper-and-pencil and online computer administrations of the tests.

“We’re pleased to be working with Pearson Educational Measurement to move toward Gateway and EOC assessments online for all of our 136 school systems,” said Keith Brewer, deputy commissioner of education for Tennessee. “This initiative helps address Governor Phil Bredesen’s request to better serve parents and students. Electronic testing will reduce testing time and provide quicker test results to help schools identify struggling students and move them into tutoring or other remedial programs earlier than usual.”

Tennessee is a leader among states in providing a wide range of in-house test processing services. Pearson Educational Measurement is providing complementary services and assists and supports the state in delivering the Gateway/EOC program using its PEMSolutions Assessment Network, Scoring Network, and Reporting Services.

“We are very pleased to have been chosen to assist the Tennessee Department of Education. Pearson Educational Measurement is the industry leader in quality, capacity and technological innovation, with the only online testing system specifically designed to support high-stakes assessments, so we are ideally suited to help Tennessee make a smooth transition to electronic testing,” said Douglas Kubach, president and CEO of Pearson Educational Measurement.

About Pearson Educational Measurement

Pearson Educational Measurement, the largest comprehensive provider of educational assessment products, services and solutions, helps states and large school districts meet the requirements of education reform while using testing and assessment to promote learning.  As a pioneer, PEM has been a trusted partner in district, state and national assessments for more than 50 years.  

PEM’s full-service offerings for K-12 and other assessment organizations include PEMSolutions™ (Pearson Educational Measurement Solutions) for custom assessments, bothonline and on paper; PASeries™ (Progress Assessment Series) for formative assessments; Perspective™ for performance reporting; and a wide range of data warehousing and other educational assessment products and services. Pearson Educational Measurement operates as a business of Pearson Education, the world’s largest education company, which in turn is a part of Pearson (NYSE: PSO; LSE: PSON), the international media company. Pearson’s other primary operations include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group

For more information, visit the website at www.pearsonedmeasurement.com.

About PEMSolutions™

PEMSolutions (Pearson Educational Measurement Solutions) is a comprehensive suite of custom assessment services to meet the specific needs of states, large school districts and other assessment organizations. PEMSolutions provides the ability to create quality assessment instruments through Test & Measurement Services, deliver tests both on paper and online with its Assessment Network, score a full spectrum of test items with the Scoring Network, report test results to educators and parents quickly through Reporting Services, and analyze results through Research Services.

Pearson Educational Measurement provides its PEMSolutions services either individually or combined, supporting summative, formative, English language, alternative and other custom assessments. Schools benefit from flexibility in type or mode of testing and are able to test later while getting results back earlier. All PEMSolutions programs are enhanced by certified program management, world-class customer service and a highly responsive account team.