Do two privately owned corporations dictate our education system?

[Guest2]

I am trying to understand this and could use some help. The two college entrance exams are published by Pearson and College Board, correct?

 

Pearson is the largest textbook company, and publishes The ACT. Doesn't it also have the rights to the Standford testing and ITBS? Aren't these the tests used to determine how schools are doing academically and their funding? Pearson also has online learning labs, test and quizzes for college students. Does it have the same for high schools as well?

 

So Pearson learning tests kids from first grade on,then tests them for entry into college? At some schools, then does the lions' share of teaching at that point (online learning lab, tests, and quizzes)as well? Am I reading this correctly? A private company?

 

The College Board owns the SAT, AP and SAT subject tests,as well as Clep .

 

AP classes have become the measurement of rigor even in homeschooling circles. I have looked at the syllabi , but I am confused as to why a school or homeschool would limit teaching to that syllabi. My experience is very limited, but for example, I know they do not cover all of the schools of economic thought, as not all of them will be on test. How many other valuable things are not taught for this reason(time is allocated to increasing test scores only)?

 

So, the College Board determines what will be taught in the most rigorous classes (AP), and also the entry tests into college? Some of the elite schools requires further College Board testing..the subject exams? It also publishes the CLEP tests for those students whoses college will give credit for these tests. So College Board in involved in most step of the process. College Board owned tests decide who can get in , and where, and if AP or CLEP credits are accepted, what college classes can be exempted?

 

Doesn't that seem like a lot of power for two corporations to hold? Or is it just me?

 

Help me understand this, as the big picture to me is that we have sold our educational system to two companies.

[Angie in VA]

I started reading this and now it's gone. Bummer. 

 

I saw some good points.

[Guest2]

Sorry, i am a clunky writer and didn't have time to edit all of my poor grammar. I put it back up. :)

[Matryoshka]

Yes.

 

Why'd you delete the post?  I also thought you made some very good points.

[Serenade]

Yes.

 

Why'd you delete the post?  I also thought you made some very good points.

 

 

I'd like to have seen it, too.

[OneStepAtATime]

Thanks for putting it back.  Strong food for thought.

[Arcadia]

ETS does the tests for collegeboard. They also do the GRE, Praxis and many others.

 

"Aren't ETS and the College Board really the same thing?

No. ETS develops and administers the SAT®, the Advanced Placement Program® Exams and other programs on behalf of the College Board. The College Board sponsors these testing programs and decides how they will be constructed, administered and used. While the College Board is our largest client, we also work with dozens of other organizations and associations."

https://www.ets.org/about/faq

 

Long list of ETS provided tests including state tests for high school exit exams.

https://www.ets.org/tests_products/alpha

 

ETA:

Just my opinion from doing school at the libraries, the syllabus for k-12 is not even being covered in a school year for public schools. I won't even expect the entire AP syllabus to be covered, probably whatever topics is the bulk of the exam.

[Guest2]

Thnaks Arcadia.

 

So the ETS administers and develps the tests, but the College Board "sponsors these testing programs and decides how they will be constructed,administered and used." College Board is a "client?"

 

So College Board pays the ETS to develop the test. It sounds like College Board still has all of the power to me. Am I reading it wrong?

[Reefgazer]

I believe they do; at least in Virginia, Pearson owns K-12 education.

 

The bolded is why I will be avoiding AP exams for my kids in high school.  We'll take a few APs (2-3) in order to demonstrate rigor and verify mommy grades, but I don't want my kids constrained by a canned curriculum designed to score high on a test - teaching to the test is one reason we left public school.  I'll use SAT II and dual enrollment to increase her exposure to college level work, and to demonstrate her capability.

I am trying to understand this and could use some help. The two college entrance exams are published by Pearson and College Board, correct?

Pearson is the largest textbook company, and publishes The ACT. Doesn't it also have the rights to the Standford testing and ITBS? Aren't these the tests used to determine how schools are doing academically and their funding? Pearson also has online learning labs, test and quizzes for college students. Does it have the same for high schools as well?

So Pearson learning tests kids from first grade on,then tests them for entry into college? At some schools, then does the lions' share of teaching at that point (online learning lab, tests, and quizzes)as well? Am I reading this correctly? A private company?

The College Board owns the SAT, AP and SAT subject tests,as well as Clep .

AP classes have become the measurement of rigor even in homeschooling circles. I have looked at the syllabi , but I am confused as to why a school or homeschool would limit teaching to that syllabi. My experience is very limited, but for example, I know they do not cover all of the schools of economic thought, as not all of them will be on test. How many other valuable things are not taught for this reason(time is allocated to increasing test scores only)?

So, the College Board determines what will be taught in the most rigorous classes (AP), and also the entry tests into college? Some of the elite schools requires further College Board testing..the subject exams? It also publishes the CLEP tests for those students whoses college will give credit for these tests. So College Board in involved in most step of the process. College Board owned tests decide who can get in , and where, and if AP or CLEP credits are accepted, what college classes can be exempted?

Doesn't that seem like a lot of power for two corporations to hold? Or is it just me?

Help me understand this, as the big picture to me is that we have sold our educational system to two companies.

 

[Tsuga]

Short answer: Not yet, not completely, but yes, privatizing the system combined with money in politics has led to, surprise surprise, unchecked monopoly.

 

Longer answer:

 

http://teaching.monster.com/benefits/articles/10962-gates-pearson-education-team-up-for-national-curriculum

 

Gates is funding education massively through grants around here.

 

Right now there is still room to interpret CC standards and I can see the variation reading this board.

 

However, if we don't stick by the teachers unions (they are our best, #1 hope, who have opposed this since the beginning, note I don't mind standards but I hate monopoly interpretation of standards) then we might get screwed.

 

It's been a while since this country had a national strike. In Seattle, the high schoolers aren't testing, the teachers did strike. Not in our city--yet. But almost. I will be striking with them when they do.

 

We have peaceful tools to change this system but it's going to take a lot of sacrifice.

[Arcadia]

So College Board pays the ETS to develop the test. It sounds like College Board still has all of the power to me. Am I reading it wrong?

Nope. Just that it looks like they have a long working relationship.

[Tsuga]

Nope. Just that it looks like they have a long working relationship.

 

I looked it up, and supposedly, the College Board only accounts for 25% of ETS' business. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_Testing_Service

 

The two companies are ETS and Pearson. They are competing. Imagine if each state had its own company, or at least region.

[JoJosMom]

In a word:  Yes.

[Guest2]

I think Pearson used to score the SAT essay, but they disolved thwt relationship in 2002. http://www.fairtest.org/ets-loses-sat-writing-test-contract

[EKS]

I can't find a relationship between ACT and Pearson. Can you provide a link?

[Guest2]

This one isn' the best ofr this purpose http://www.act.org/newsroom/act-to-launch-next-generation-college-and-career-readiness-assessment-system-aligned-to-common-core-state-standards-and-more/

 

I think it was the second to last paragraph . At that point it was referring to the parent company Pearson.

[Arcadia]

I can't find a relationship between ACT and Pearson. Can you provide a link?

"ACT Aspire, LLC is founded on a tradition of assessment thought leadership, originating through our partnering companies ACT and Pearson.

...

The firm Pearson and Son was first established in England in 1844. It has grown to become a leading provider of electronic learning programs and of test development, processing and scoring services to educational institutions, corporations and professional bodies. It now operates in 70 countries around the globe."

 

http://www.discoveractaspire.org/about-us/foundations-firsts/

[Guest2]

Sorry, I was checking this more, you are right. ACT has partnered with Pearson for various projects, but they are not the same company. My bad.

I love this board, its like having a discussion with your most informed friend. I am always learning here.

Nope , Arcadia has the link. So there is a new L.L.C. ACT made of the two companies partnering?hmm

[EmilyGF]

 

AP classes have become the measurement of rigor even in homeschooling circles. I have looked at the syllabi , but I am confused as to why a school or homeschool would limit teaching to that syllabi. My experience is very limited, but for example, I know they do not cover all of the schools of economic thought, as not all of them will be on test. How many other valuable things are not taught for this reason(time is allocated to increasing test scores only)?

Our local super-ritzy private school refuses to teach AP classes. Instead, they call it "AT" for "Advanced Topic" and include a note on the transcript about how AP classes aren't rigorous enough for them.

 

But you have to have the guts and the reputation to write your own syllabi.

 

Emily

[Guest2]

Maybe there should be a WTM designation instead of AP?

[Tsuga]

Silver Brook, I think what might be more impressive than anything with the word "advanced" (so subjective) would be to include a key advanced skill in the title, like "Microbiology with Immunology and College Lab" or "Physics with Solar Aerospace Development Project".

 

First of all, you can't say immunology and college lab if you don't have one. I mean, you can, but it's not fudging, it's just plain lying. Second of all, it will stand out. Third of all, it is truly impressive to be specialized. Fourth of all, you can only get so advanced before you specialize. What really bothers me about AP classes--I'm not opposed to them in general, but this just bothers me--is that AP English doesn't mean anything. My course focused on classical literature. The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Aeneid, and I don't remember what else. Oh yes. We did get to The Canterbury Tales as well.  I wish I could have gotten credit for reading all those epic poems. In fact it was more of an epic poetry class than just AP English. We also learned expository writing. If I could have titled it I would have left off AP and put the specifics.

 

Unless the college is counting up the APs... who cares about the "advanced" title? It's as advanced as you want to be. Some honors English classes IMO are more advanced than AP classes.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

Silver Brook, I think what might be more impressive than anything with the word "advanced" (so subjective) would be to include a key advanced skill in the title, like "Microbiology with Immunology and College Lab" or "Physics with Solar Aerospace Development Project".

 

First of all, you can't say immunology and college lab if you don't have one. I mean, you can, but it's not fudging, it's just plain lying. Second of all, it will stand out. Third of all, it is truly impressive to be specialized. Fourth of all, you can only get so advanced before you specialize. What really bothers me about AP classes--I'm not opposed to them in general, but this just bothers me--is that AP English doesn't mean anything. My course focused on classical literature. The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Aeneid, and I don't remember what else. Oh yes. We did get to The Canterbury Tales as well.  I wish I could have gotten credit for reading all those epic poems. In fact it was more of an epic poetry class than just AP English. We also learned expository writing. If I could have titled it I would have left off AP and put the specifics.

 

Unless the college is counting up the APs... who cares about the "advanced" title? It's as advanced as you want to be. Some honors English classes IMO are more advanced than AP classes.

 

You do have the option of teaching the class you want, with the AP test as an add on.  That is what my high school US History teacher did.  He was so confident in his course that he encouraged students to just sit for the AP exam.  I was the only one who did it my year and I earned a score worthy of validation credit.  (I think I did as well as the actual AP students at the neighboring high school, which accepted commuter students from my school for that one course.)

 

I've found that my middle ds has learned so much about literature and literary analysis from various Lukeion courses and the lower level classes I taught (like Windows to the World) that there isn't much in our AP English Lit studies that isn't review for him.  

 

I've felt that for most of the AP courses I've created the syllabus was the starting point, not the end goal.  AP US History is a notable exception, and I'm still putting my own spin on the course, because I think the APUSH framework is a soup sandwich.

[swimmermom3]

Where it gets crazier to me is when you look at the connections between David Coleman (who is arguably the architect of the Common Core and is also former EdSec), his current Presidency of College Board, the coincidental revamping of the SAT's, and the agreement state colleges made for acceptance of applicants passing common core/state required testing, even if they couldn't pass basic college acceptance tests in order to receive that Race to the Top money. It's pretty fascinating actually- seems like a brilliant set up among the big players. Pearson basically has a monopoly too but no one seems to mind.....They are THE sole provider of textbooks in Canada to my understanding and are quickly taking that position in the US buying every publisher in site. It's completely incestuous and boils my blood every time I think about it. Of course I didn't pay attention to this stuff when my dd was in public school. It's ironic I pay more attention to these things now. My eyes have been opening I guess.

 

I'm curious to see where Arne Duncan goes when he steps down this year. The plot thickens. :)

 

It's been crazy for so many years. One of the things not mentioned I believe is that Pearson also provides all the study materials for teachers specializing in a particular area.  So if I want to teach high school history, I will study Pearson materials in preparation for the necessary exam, at least in my state.

 

 

[Serenade]

 and the agreement state colleges made for acceptance of applicants passing common core/state required testing, even if they couldn't pass basic college acceptance tests in order to receive that Race to the Top money. 

 

Wow.  I didn't realize Race to the Top included provisions for college admittance requirements.  I thought it was only a program for the public schools, K-12.

[MarkT]

fact corrections:

 

College Board is an American private nonprofit corporation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_Board

 

Pearson PLC is a British multinational publishing and education company headquartered in London

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearson_PLC

 

Connections Academy is a Baltimore-based division of Connections Education, LLC, which is owned by the UK-based, publicly traded Pearson PLC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connections_Academy

 

K12 Inc. is a for-profit education company that sells online schooling and curriculum to state and local governments.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K12_(company)

 

ACT

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACT_(test)

[MarkT]

of interest

http://www.alternet.org/education/corporations-profit-standardized-tests

 

 

[Janeway]

College Board and Bill Gates seem to set a lot. Pearson Learning only makes the books that follows what they are told to put in them. College Board sets a lot of standards, but so does the government, aka whoever gives the most money in congress. Bill Gates has been one of the biggies in this.

[Reefgazer]

Word.

 

Regarding the bolded:  We are in Virginia, which is not a Common Core state, either.  But when the state tests were redesigned in an attempt to get RTTT money, this is what we found also; teach to the test, but only until April.  Pearson's is neck deep in education here and owns the Virginia DoE.  The insanity of teaching to the test, and narrowing of the curriculum for the test (which means dumbing it down) were the top two reasons we left public school.

 

I struck out on easily finding the sources- they're obscure to easily pick up on a Google search without having extra time to sift but, I would say that if you want to quickly be brought up to speed on a lot of the corporate workings and connections, try and find any of the speeches by Duke Pesta online. Then you can track his sources if desired. The amount of information he can pack into an hour is amazing. He talks fast so hold on! Whether you agree with CC or not, he knows his facts, is well sourced and will definitely give you things to think about.

HSLDA, although I know controversial, also has done their homework on a lot of the privacy issues and also has the specific citations of their information on many of their papers to allow for further reading if you want the original source. If you have time to watch it they made a video or series of videos, I believe called Building the Machine that are available on YouTube.

I came to be very interested in Pearson due to their role in the Texas state tests, which is why I've even started looking into this subject the last few years. Everything suddenly changed (for the worse) at my child's school a few years ago as the new STAAR test loomed, and is one of the many reasons we left our "top rated" public school system. Everything became living and breathing for the test, and the word "Strategies" became one of my most hated. Then once the test ended, everything came to a screeching halt leaving me wondering why they even bothered to have school after April.

While we aren't a common core state, thanks to Pearson being the main provider of testing and texts (until this coming year) we might as well be. The strategies and TEKS are largely identical. I've always looked more at Pearson as to how it will affect my kids as they move towards college, and then I've learned it's impossible to separate Pearson from CC or RTTT. So I keep an eye on them. They just sold off a paper recently to loosen up their cash flow to be able to make further moves into eduction.

Once I learned the players' names it became a source of facination actually. That a person can head a department of the federal government, create an entire new behemoth such as CC, and then leave gov't post to go run a "non-profit" (and that designation kills me to use) that oversees a huge portion of college testing, who then will suddenly redefine said college entrance testing to match high school CC requirements (rather than having the high schools meet the college requirements as was the previous method), is to me nothing short of Machiavellian genius. David Coleman may be many things but stupid he is not.

 

[Sebastian (a lady)]

 

Once I learned the players' names it became a source of facination actually. That a person can head a department of the federal government, create an entire new behemoth such as CC, and then leave gov't post to go run a "non-profit" (and that designation kills me to use) that oversees a huge portion of college testing, who then will suddenly redefine said college entrance testing to match high school CC requirements (rather than having the high schools meet the college requirements as was the previous method), is to me nothing short of Machiavellian genius. David Coleman may be many things but stupid he is not.

 

Are you saying that David Coleman was a US Secretary of Education?  I looked at a short bio of him and it seemed like he'd spent most or all of his time working as a consultant/activist.  I didn't see that he'd been in the Department of Education.  He has not been the head of the DOE.

[swimmermom3]

Reefgazer, if you really want to hone your "watching the train wreck" fascination, look at who some of the big names were that provided venture capital for K12. Or perhaps who the big money was that was responsible for producing the civics course that North Carolina public schools nearly adopted.

 

Education is a very lucrative business in this country. Too bad it isn't nearly as good for those citizens it is actually supposed to serve.

[Reefgazer]

Oh, I've been watching the train wreck for a few years now.  If you want a real eye-opener of a book, check out "Credentialed To Destroy" by Robin Eubanks.  It is horribly edited to the point of being nearly unreadable, but if you can get by the run-on sentences and poor grammar, the author lays out all those connections for you. Those connections may very well be a coincidence, but likely not, given the content of her sources.   

Reefgazer, if you really want to hone your "watching the train wreck" fascination, look at who some of the big names were that provided venture capital for K12. Or perhaps who the big money was that was responsible for producing the civics course that North Carolina public schools nearly adopted.

 

Education is a very lucrative business in this country. Too bad it isn't nearly as good for those citizens it is actually supposed to serve.