MARCH 13, 2015
BREAKING: Pearson, NJ, spying on
social media of students taking
PARCC tests
” Pearson, the multinational testing and
publishing company, is spying on the social media posts of students–including those
from New Jersey–while the children are taking their PARCC, statewide tests, this
site has learned exclusively. The state education department is cooperating with this
spying and has asked at least one school district to discipline students who may
have said something inappropriate about the tests.
This website discovered the unauthorized and hidden spying thanks to educators
who informed it of the practice–a practice happening throughout the state and
apparently throughout the country. The spying–or “monitoring,” to use Pearson’s
word–was confirmed at one school district–the Watchung Hills Regional High School
district in Warren by its superintendent, Elizabeth Jewett.
Jewett sent out an e-mail–posted here– to her colleagues expressing concern about
the unauthorized spying on students. She said parents are upset and added that she
thought Pearson’s behavior would contribute to the growing “opt out” movement.
In her email, Jewett said the district’s testing coordinator received a late night call
from the state education department saying that Pearson had “initiated a Priority 1
Alert for an item breach within our school.”
The unnamed state education department employee contended a student took a
picture of a test item and tweeted it. But it turned out the student had posted–at 3:18
pm, after testing was over–a tweet about one of the items with no picture. Jewett
does not say the student revealed a question. Jewett continues:
“The student deleted the tweet and we spoke with the parent–who was obviously
highly concerned as to her child’s tweets being monitored by the DOE (state
education department).
“The DOE informed us that Pearson is monitoring all social media during the PARCC
testing.”
Jewett continued: I have to say that I find that a bit disturbing–and if our parents
were concerned before about a conspiracy with all of the student data, I am sure I
will be receiving more letters of refusal once this gets out.”
The school superintendent also expressed concern about “the fact that the DOE
wanted us to also issue discipline to the student.”
I contacted Jewett by email. By that time she had discovered three instances in
which Pearson notified the state education department of the results of its spying. In
her email to me, Jewett was vague about the role of Pearson and the education
department. She wrote:
“In reference to the issue of PARCC infractions and DOE/Pearson monitoring social
media, we have had three incidents over the past week. All situations have been
dealt with in accordance with our Watchung Hills Regional High School code of
conduct and academic integrity policy. Watchung Hills Regional High School is a
relatively small district and a close-knit community; therefore, I am very concerned
that whatever details your sources are providing may cause unnecessary labeling
and hardship to students who are learning the consequences of their behavior.”
Jewett acted professionally, I believe, but I must point out the irony of her lecturing
me about protecting the identity of students when she has just dealt with an
inexcusable breach of privacy involving minors. I made it clear to her I have no
intention of revealing names of students–but I would be more than happy to speak
with their parents.
The state education department official identified as the person cooperating with
Pearson is Veronica Orsi, who is in charge of assessment for grades 9-12 in the
department. She refused to answer this website’s questions about her involvement.
Neither the state education department nor Pearson’s would respond to my
emails on the company’s spying on students.
New Jersey is paying $108 million to run its PARCC testing program, an enterprise
that has engendered opposition throughout New Jersey–and that was before the
spying was revealed.
State Education Commissioner David Hespe spent hours testifying before the
Legislature’s Senate Education Committee Thursday and did not once mention the
possibility that the London-based Pearson would be “monitoring” the social media
accounts of students taking the test. Jewett’s email, however, indicated the
department–presumably including Hespe–were well aware of the practice.
A few days before, state education department officials–including Orsi–held a
background briefing for some media–Bob Braun’s Ledger was not invited–and none
of the mainstream media accounts of the session revealed the Pearson spying
program.