Questar Assessments, a company based in Minneapolis, received a five-year, $44 million deal, the State Education Department said on Thursday. The previous contract, for $32 million, was held by Pearson, an international education company based in London that has become a lightning rod in education policy around the country.
“Our students deserve the best, most accurate assessments we can give them,” said Merryl H. Tisch, the chancellor of the State Board of Regents. “Teachers and parents should have clear, practical information to help them help their students learn.”
This news was the first significant announcement made under the leadership of the state’s new education commissioner, MaryEllen Elia, who started the job on Monday.
