Testing company agrees to pay students’ parents

Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2002 | 9:50 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Harcourt Educational Measurement, fined $425,000 for making mistakes in grading 736 high school proficiency tests, has agreed to repay parents who sent their children to summer school after they were erroneously told the children failed.

At the prompting of Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, the company committed Tuesday to reimbursing the costs for extra tutors or summer school.

"The trauma to the students, families and teachers is difficult to measure," Raggio told Harcourt President Dean Nafziger. "I can't think of anything more devastating."

His statement came at a meeting of the Legislative Committee on Education, which considered the Harcourt's error. The company told the high school sophomores and juniors -- 437 of them in Clark County -- that they failed the math portion of the high school proficiency test. They later realized the pupils had passed.

The state Board of Education voted 6-4 Monday to impose the $425,000 fine, require an independent group oversee Harcourt testing procedures and to absolve the state of any wrongdoing.

The board also cautioned Harcourt that another "significant" error would result in cancellation of the contracts.

Raggio said some of the students who were told they failed went to summer school, which parents must pay for. One student so far has requested payment from the state for a tutor.

Nafziger said the company, which provides tests in 20 other states, will identify those students who took the extra courses and reimburse them. He had no estimate of what it would cost.

Raggio also suggested the threat of a contract cancellation as a future penalty was not strong enough.

"I don't think that's punitive," Raggio said. The contract can be terminated and the company can walk away. He suggested the state should invoke a 5 percent penalty called for in the contract.

But Raggio acknowledged that would be up to the education board.

Nafziger said the $425,000 penalty was "a significant amount for us." He said the company operates on a tight profit margin.

The state has $4.8 million in contracts with Harcourt for high school and grammar school testing.

Nafziger also assured the legislative committee that it has taken steps to avoid the error in the future. He said the "real stock in trade" for the firm is to maintain its credibility.

The committee adopted a number of measures to present to the 2003 Legislature. It agreed to support a bill to continue remedial education for students who need help to meet proficiency requirements. The program will cost the state $6.75 million each year.

Committee members also agreed to back continued spending of $10 million a year for the training programs for teachers, including instruction on getting children to read by the third grade.

The committee voted to require school districts pay math and science teachers 5 percent more than other educators. These specialties have proven difficult to fill and districts are asking for help to attract good teachers.

Debbie Cahill of the Nevada State Education Association opposed the extra pay, saying it would be "an insult to other teachers." She said other incentives could be used to attract the math and science teachers.

The committee voted to support buying laptop computers for disadvantaged students to use at home and installation of broadband Internet connections for all schools.