Hearing set on New Mexico PARCC testing contract challenge

A hearing is set on a legal challenge to New Mexico’s contract to a testing company that is administering a much-debated assessment examine in state schools.

Santa Fe District Judge Sarah Singleton is scheduled Tuesday to hear arguments in a case that seeks to overturn a contract awarded to London-based Pearson.

The Washington-based American Institutes for Research wants to limit a potentially multi-year contract given to Pearson for Common Core testing and force New Mexico to reopen bidding.

Last year, Pearson was awarded a contact given out by states belonging to a consortium for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers exam, or PARCC.

AIR says the consortium unfairly helped shape bidding requirements that was crafted especially for Pearson.