Education officials negotiate to replace Harcourt

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Monday, July 12, 2004 | 10:35 a.m.

State education officials are in negotiations to replace embattled Harcourt Education Measurement as the contractor responsible for the bulk of Nevada's public school testing.

Harcourt has had a series of high-profile errors over the last two years, including using the wrong scoring sheet to grade elementary school standardized tests.

The company was fined $425,000 after Harcourt incorrectly told nearly 800 high school students they had failed the state's proficiency test.

Staff from the Nevada Department of Education considered eight bids, including one from Harcourt. Measured Progress of Dover, N.H., emerged as the top contender, officials said. The State Board of Education gave the go-ahead Friday for staff to move ahead with contract negotiations.

Harcourt has three years remaining on an $18 million contract. The state can cancel the deal with 30 days notice, said State Superintendent Keith Rheault.

A nonprofit organization founded in 1983, Measured Progress has been awarded more than 20 contracts to oversee statewide educational assessment programs, according to the company's Web site.