NY Picks New Company to Develop State Math and English Tests

New York state has awarded a $44 million, five-year contract to develop state math and English tests to Questar Assessment, Inc., a Minneapolis-based testing company.

Questar won the contract over three other bidders including Pearson, the current contract holder and the target of criticism in New York for its tests aligned to the Common Core learning standards and certain test passages that were perceived as downright bizarre, including one from 2012 about a talking pineapple.

Pearson also became a lightening rod in the debate around standardized testing in general, including the high stakes attached to student performance for teacher evaluations. That debate culminated in a major increase in New York parents opting their children out of state tests this past spring.

Pearson's contract expires June 30, 2016. The company put out a statement expressing disappointment that it was not the chosen bidder.

“We will continue to serve the people of New York through our other assessment work along with learning materials and higher education services,” the statement read.

Moving forward, Questar is tasked with both creating test questions for the math and English tests that third- through eighth-grade students must take and for developing computer-based versions of the tests. Districts will have the option of offering computer-based testing next school year.

"Our goal is to continue to improve the assessments to make sure they provide the instructional support parents and teachers need to prepare our students for college and careers," said Merryl Tisch, chancellor of the state Board of Regents, in a statement.

The state's new education commissioner, MaryEllen Elia, pledged that teachers would be heavily involved in developing the tests.

"Teacher input is critical to building a successful state test, and that’s why the new contract emulates the collaborative process used to develop the Regents Exams,” she said in a statement.

The contract must be approved by the attorney general and the state comptroller.