June 9, 2014
By NYS Senator Terry Gipson
I stood with educators from across Dutchess and Putnam counties in front of the Arlington Teachers' Association to announce a legislative initiative that would end the State Education Department’s reliance on Pearson, a for-profit foreign-based corporation, for student testing and teacher certification.
I believe New York State must regain control of our public education. Our taxpayer dollars that fund our public education system should not be spent on flawed products enriching foreign corporations at the expense of a quality education for our children.
As part of this effort, I’ve introduced two bills in the State Senate. The first, S.7451, would stop the use of exams developed by Pearson and prohibit the State Education Department from entering into any future contracts with Pearson. The second bill, S.7445, would end the requirement for teacher certification applicants to take and pay for Pearson (or affiliate) examinations. Pearson is contracted by the New York State Department of Education, and was awarded the contract through a RFP.
This initiative is just one of many steps needed to reform our public education. Our system must provide for educators, parents and our community to have a voice in our children’s education. I believe that the New York State Department of Education must take greater responsibility to provide the best education possible for New York’s children, and not shop that responsibility out to for-profit corporations. The apparent lack of control and oversight has become far too prevalent as evidenced by the failed implementation of the Common Core.
