Tag Archives: Pearson

Common Core Aligned: ACT Replacing Tests With “Aspire”

Posted on July 2, 2014 by

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Common Core aligned ACT and WorkKeys. Here’s a quick refresher from that article on what WorkKeys is and how this is impacting NC:
WorkKeys is developed by ACT, the college admissions testing group. WorkKeys is described like this on their site:

“ACT WorkKeys is a job skills assessment system that helps employers select, hire, train, develop, and retain a high-performance workforce. This series of tests measures foundational and soft skills and offers specialized assessments to target institutional needs.”

NC uses these ACT tests – According to the ACT site, there are four ways to find out what job is the right one (starting in 8th grade) in North Carolina: EXPLORE, PLAN, WORKKEYS, ACT.

EXPLORE is about to go Bye Bye — read what is replacing it and how Pearson is partnering to push it out. Continue reading →

Posted in Common Core, LL1885, The Articles | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Large District Superintendent’s Clique’s Letter to Pearson

Posted on April 15, 2014 by

The NC Large District Superintendent Consortium (NCLDSC) has a beef with Pearson and Powerschool. In a letter I obtained through a FOIA on the NCLDSC, it would seem Pearson’s Powerschool is not well thought of by the Large District Clique.

From that FOIA, it would seem that this Large District clique is working closely with NC New Schools and BEST NC. Both of which have promoted the Common Core or have ties to the NC Chamber of Commerce’s attempt to drown out parents on the topic– Hire Standards. More on that later, back to Powerschool.

According to the letter, the reps from Pearson have been rude and the NCLDSC is asking for “no charge” for the 2014-15 school year “as a good faith investment in our long-term partnership”. Continue reading →

Posted in Common Core, EDUCATION, LL1885, The Articles | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments